Volkswagen Unwraps New XL1 Hybrid (261 MPG!)
|
|
Volkswagen's XL1 prototype gets 261 mpg.
CREDIT: Volkswagen AG |
Volkswagen has just unveiled its new XL1 prototype, a car that it says will get 261 miles per gallon (100 kilometers per 0.9 liters) with a plug-in electric/gas hybrid engine, and should go into production within the next few years.
The car, which made its debut at the Qatar Motor Show this past week, is being advertised as the most fuel-efficient hybrid powered by an electric motor /internal combustion engine combination.
According to Volkswagen, the XL1 represents the third evolutionary stage of their 1-liter car strategy. And part of the company's "visionary goal of bringing to the market a production car that was practical for everyday use with a fuel consumption of 1.0 liter per 100 km."
Thanks to a combination of lightweight construction, very low aerodynamic drag and a plug-in hybrid system (which consists of a two-cylinder TDI engine, E-motor, 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and lithium-ion battery), the new Volkswagen XL1 puts out only a fraction of the carbon dioxide of conventional gas vehicles. Despite all the efficiency measures, the concept car reportedly can hit 62 mph in 11.6 seconds and has a top speed of 99 mph.
Since it is designed as a plug-in hybrid, the XL1 prototype can also be driven for up to 22 miles (35 kilometers) in pure electric mode , which results in zero emissions. The battery can also be charged from a conventional household electric outlet. In addition, battery regeneration can recover energy and store as much of it as possible in the battery for re-use, so the electric motor acts as an electric generator.
In addition to the measures inside the car, its body was also designed to make the car that much more efficient. According to Volkswagen's website, "Progress has been made by manufacturing body parts from carbon fiber reinforced polymer parts (CFRP), a technique used in Formula 1 car construction."
According to TheTruthAboutCars.com, Martin Winterkorn, chairman of Volkswagen AG, said the car will be introduced in Germany first, with the U.S. and China following at a later time, but gave no definite schedule for the car's release.
- Rocket Science in Your Car: 7 Aerospace Technologies On the Road
- History Repeats Itself: Carmakers Again Put Electric Vehicles in Fast Lane
- Car's Whole Body Fabricated on a 3-D Printer
