Copyright by AutoVestiTV Translation by W140 Every auto manufacturer has a car-ambition. They don’t expect to earn on it but want to show all technological power. Today we’ll take a ride at one of that kind. It’s Volkswagen XL1. This capsule from future is a real car and not a concept-car. Doors are mix from Gullwind and guillotine. Rear wheels hide behind panels. From the back it’s just a space module for evacuation.Not much people know about this car, despite first prototype of eco-car was showed in 2002, it called 1-Liter Car. The name alluded to fuel consumption – 1 L/100 km. VW XL1 is third and final generation. Under the hood, or, in fact, in trunk here is tiny diesel engine 0.8, working together with electric engine of 20 Kw. Unique exterior of the car is not just thirst of future, but also because of aerodynamics. Cx 0,18. It’s the best result in the world. On top of that, VW is record-holder by weight. Number of used steel was reduced by 30%, the base is made of aliminium, carbon-fiber and magnesium alloy. Despite the car is production, they are going to make around 250 copies, you can’t escape of feelings inside this is prototype. Strange sounds, engine vibration… Many things make it looks like not finished car, but some kind of pre-production.Because of light weight and low fuel consumption many familiar elements made in fully different way. Here is not just air conditioning but also climate-control. But ductworks made just on the left and right sides. So here is quite warm inside. Too narrow, not to call it fuselage, chassis, didn’t allow to put ductworks and siplay on the front board, that’s why no cooling on the center. But if it was, it could not bring any effect.The engine, located behind the passengers, makes heating. But in terms of ergonomics everything is good. Extreme low fuel consumption didn’t affected it. You may sit in this space ship and feel like home. All controll elements, buttons, handles, on right places. You just sit and go. The only thing you have to get used to is back side mirrors that replaced by displays. And these displays are incredibly done. The only thing, if you need to look very far, the resolution could be not enough. If comparing it with mirror. But in overall it is working great. They change position automatically, adapt by day or night, and so on. Interior is complete opposite to futuristic exterior. Arrangement and design are very similar to the most
budget model VW Up! And expect of carbon central console, no any other allusions on future car.Needless to say, that by seeming simplicity technical miracle is hidden. And every part of interior weights no more than fuzz. Germans say that made it for purpose. Changing driver’s habits is too hard. So interior should be clear and recognizable. Some solutions are already outdated. For example, monochrome computer display like in cheap versions of Skoda, and low resolution of multimedia screen with scarce number of functions. But better to say that: Necessary minimal is here. You can listen radio or plug-in a phone… Because of lack of space they couldn’t mount second airbag. Plus it weights a lot. Passenger seat located in this way to be far from front board and safe in cause of accident. Plus, here is not enough place for shoulders. Genial solution. Funny thing, that for 111k of Euro there’s no even electric windows. Little rotator opens as little window. Bigger window didn’t climbed in these doors.And you feel like a racer. You know, such little windows to speak with the crew… Developers came with, possibly, the most right scheme. They put diesel engine of very small size, 0.8 L and just 2 cylinders, with electric engine. That turned into hybrid, that is unbelievable economic. You may say it doesn’t eat fuel at all. Fuel tank capacity is just 10 L. Engine is working together with hateful by all DSG, modified and facilitated, or course, and working great. If, for example, on BMW i8 claimed fuel consumption is always less than actual, here it looks realistic. We stop from time to time, changins cameras, points of video shootings, and average consumption is 2,3 L/100 km. It’s really few. Weight of XL1 is 795 kg, overall power of two engines is 75 hp. It’s not possible to make it much. Usually all these hybrids are complicated, you can’t understand what you need to turn on there, B-mode… E-mode… and so on. Here is simple.You get in and go. Except of displays, it’s as usual VW inside. Full-electric mode activated by separate button. If battery is empty, you couldn’t activate it. Simple. Here is some useful information on the display. Now I see that battery charged itself, and switched to electric mode. Once you push gas, combustion engine starts immediately. Diesel engine delivers just 40 hp, which is very few by modern standarts. Here is help by electric engine, but it’s so little, that you
won’t feel the difference.But in “boost” mode the car is able to reach 100 km/h in 10 seconds, in regular mode 12,7 s. Not impressive result, of course. Bot not bad for such a small car. In addition, XL1 has perfect weight destribution 50/50, and RWD. So, if you really want… Joke, of course. But feelings are interesting anyway. Another point is very stiff suspension. Not “punch in the piehole”, sure, but uncomfortable through roughesses. You feel that it is light and stiff at the same time, which is not good for bad roads. Here is no steering booster, on low speeds the wheel is steering very hard. It’s better on high speeds, but not really much. You will always feel demand of extra force on the wheel. Surprisingly that they done more or less good insulation. For such kind of car, sure. They saved weight on every element, and put here foam or some additional insulation materials was quite compilated. Weird feelings, diesel engine starting and stalling constantly When it working you got feelings like here is a dog behind you that growls displeasured.Feelings are much better on autobahn that in the city or on low speeds. Steering wheel is not as super-heavy. If not to try to set a speed record, which is impossible, XL1 demeanors not bad. But if you ask me, if I’m ready to donate all that I get used to, just to get super-economic car… I’d say NO. Volkswagen doesn’t feel aggrieved of that.They are saying they made this car for attract attention to eco topic, and not for volume production. If some Golf would get such fuel consumption, nobody would pay attention to it, even if it would cost 1 million Euro. But you just can’t walk by this. XL1 is unique car, but it’s as futuristic as uncomfortable. Despite this, you may just envy to first hundred of brave men who bought it. Because XL1 race against time.The target audience is XL1 are “booms” (fans) and very well fixed men. For 111k Euro you may buy much more practical car. But not being as all, and own a model that in 10-15 years would be collectable, worth much. Sunscribe for updates! .
source