A high-mileage "Lite" concept version of the Volkswagen Up! minicar could wind up sharing the diesel plug-in system going into the VW XL1.
Volkswagen apparently has big plans for the high-mileage diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain that will be used in its little XL1 microcar.
Reports from Europe suggest the drivetrain – which will yield an astonishing 261 miles per gallon under the hood of the XL1 – also will make an appearance as an option for VW’s little Up! minicar. And versions of the powertrain could show up in other models, as well.
The XL1 is the latest version of VW’s ongoing 1-liter car project, that a reference to its goal of using just 1 liter of gasoline to travel 100 kilometers. In U.S. terms, that works out to about 240 mpg – a target the XL1 reportedly will beat by about 10%.
VW claims the XL1 will be the world's most fuel-efficient car when it goes into production.
Set to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the XL1 will feature a 47-horsepower 2-cylinder diesel paired with a 27-horsepower electric motor, the two delivering power to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
VW also claims the 1753-pound XL1 will achieve 31 miles of range in electric-only mode using a package of lithium-ion batteries. The maker has not revealed the size of the pack, however.
(For more on the VW XL1, Click Here.)
While the diesel hybrid system is clearly the critical element in the design of the Volkswagen XL1, the project also required VW engineers to maximize the 2-seater’s aerodynamics and slash its mass. It will make extensive use of carbon fiber and other exotic, lightweight materials.
But that will add significantly to the price tag for the XL1, which is also expected to be burdened by the cost of the complex diesel plug-in system. As a result, VW expects to sell only minimal numbers of the vehicle, which is expected to double the fuel efficiency of any other vehicle now produced by a major automotive manufacturer.
While the XL1 might be seen as a halo car for the Volkswagen brand, however, a report in Britain’s AutoCar suggests VW is looking for ways to expand the opportunities for the diesel plug-in system and will likely also offer it on the Up! which is currently the smallest and most fuel-efficient model in the German maker’s line-up.
It remains to be seen if the technology might find use in an even larger model, such as the Volkswagen Polo, though it is almost certainly too small to power the popular VW Golf – today the smallest model the maker offers in the U.S.
That said, VW has been migrating to a modular strategy for both its platforms and powertrains, an approach intended to maximize flexibility – and economies of scale. It is very possible that the XL1’s drivetrain package could be scaled up for use in bigger vehicles. Indeed, Volvo is working on a plug-in diesel hybrid, as are several other makers, that would be available for compact and even midsize offerings.
Such a drivetrain could still yield significant fuel economy numbers though nowhere near that of the XL1.