In the world of the automotive industry, fuel efficiency is the number one priority. Just this past year, our neighbours to the south mandated an average 54.5 MPG fuel efficiency standard for automotive manufacturers by the year 2025. That is an 80 percent improvement in mileage! Not too soon after, the Canadian Government agreed to draft new rules which would harmonize with these standards.
In order for automakers to meet these lofty standards, they must sell more fuel efficient vehicles. This means more hybrid and electric cars added to their lineup, all of which need to be at an affordable price. After visiting the Canadian International Autoshow (CAIS) this past week, it was clear this was the trend. Almost every model had a hybrid variant and electric cars were more preventable than ever. Fortunately hybrid vehicles are becoming a status symbol to the public eye, and with gas prices not getting any lower, the demand automakers have hoped for is present.
One of the big announcements which came this week was Volkswagen’s new 261 MPG (0.9 L/100 km) production ready XL1. Previously shown as a concept vehicle in 2011, it has only now been revealed as a production ready model.
To put this mileage into perspective, a road trip from Waterloo to Vancouver in the Volkswagen XL1 would cost the traveller approximately $49 in fuel. This is outstanding considering doing the same trip in a Smart Car would cost the traveler $355, and in a standard mid-size sedan $534. This is assuming a gas price of $1.27 per liter.
As a result, this car is billed as the most fuel efficient vehicle on the road. Its small dimensions of 3.8 m long and 1.15 m tall make it only roomy for 2 occupants, but keeps it lightweight. On top of this, extreme weight saving measures, including a 1.2 mm thick carbon-fiber reinforced plastic body, and a 3.2 mm thick glass windshield, sees the XL1 weigh in at 795 kg.
The car is powered by a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid system. This system combines a 0.8 litre two-cylinder diesel engine, electric motor and a seven-speed transmission. The electric engine is powered by a lithium ion battery. The combined power of the two engines is 73 horsepower, which is slightly more than the 70 horsepower Smart Car.
Using its light weight to its advantage, the car is able to produce a 0-100 kph time of 12.7 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/hr. These are very comparable to that of the Smart Car; however the Smart Car is only able to achieve 36 MPG (6.5 L/100 km).
The driver can choose between two driving modes: diesel-electric or pure electric. In pure electric mode, the car can travel 50 km on the lithium-ion battery alone. In diesel-electric mode, the diesel engine aids the electric motor by supplying additional power, allowing the battery charge to last longer.
For creature comforts, the XL1 comes with the standard features most new cars come with today. The trunk is located at the front of the car (the engine is located in the rear) and is the only large storage area available.
Although this is a production model, don’t count on having one of these in your driveway anytime soon. Volkswagen plans to do an initial run of 50 cars, with production being altered afterward based on demand. Pricing has yet to be released, however speculation puts it between $45,000 and $100,000.
Full specs will be revealed at the Geneva International Autoshow where it is to make its official public debut.
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