Get ready, folks! Volkswagen has got a mid-engine, 2 passenger, 2 door coupe, that weighs a mere 1,750 pounds in the stables. It’s the Volkswagen XL1. Power from it’s turbodiesel engine gets to the rear wheels via a 7-speed DSG transmission and it looks sexy as hell.
But wait, there’s more! You also get an electric engine to boot. Yes, we’re talking about the VW XL1 hybrid, and even though the equipment looks ripe for speed, it’s actually built for efficiency.
Sure, it has a turbo diesel engine…a 2 cylinder 0.8-liter TDI, good for 47 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor adds 27 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque, giving the whole shebang 68 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque.
Top speed is 100 mph, but with a 0-60 time of 12.5 seconds, it would presumably take you a while to get there.
The good news is that the XL1 gets 261 MPG on the European driving cycle. Fuel ratings are measured differently across the pond and VW tells us to expect 210 MPG in the United States. Not that it matters as the XL1 will be available only in Europe.
I had the chance to toodle around the parking lot at VW’s North American Headquarters, so my driving impressions are limited. Acceleration is what you would expect for a low powered car. It gets the job done but don’t expect great thrills. There is no power steering in the XL1, yet it was still maneuverable at low speeds with a bit of effort.
The cabin is small but far from cramped. Driver and passenger are offset just a bit to keep the aerodynamic lines of the body. There aren’t a ton of features we come to expect with new cars like heated seats, a USB port and the like. Nonetheless, it’s still comfortable and well designed. There’s even a flat-bottom steering wheel. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the use of cameras instead of side mirrors, again all in the name of aero.
And lest you be worried about storage space to take on your epic journey, they’ve managed to fit in a fairly roomy 4.23 cu-ft trunk. It’s not big enough for me, but it is big enough for 2 small soft sided duffel bags.
It’s a shame this little guy won’t be seen on our shores. VW plans on making 250 of them at the Osnabrück plant in northwestern Germany. No word yet on how much they will cost, but expect to spend many Euros.
Check out this TFLcar insider video of the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf:
