Evolution Or Revolution? 240 MPG 2014 Volkswagen XL1 Test Drive

The 2014 Volkswagen XL1 looks like a car of the future, but it sounds like a car from the past. A body as streamlined as a fish, tires as thin as a motorbike's, gullwing doors and a tail tapering like a tadpole's give this car an otherworldly look that's as startling as the sound of its engine. But instead of the low hum or jetlike whoosh that you'd expect from a car so dramatic, you hear the lumpy putterings of a lawnmower.

And that's because there's a tiny twin-cylinder diesel engine beneath that insectlike rear end, whose jumpy idle has you wondering whether this car's mechanicals are entirely as they should be. They are, of course. The 47-horsepower 800cc engine is part of an ingenious, lightweight bundle of parts designed with a challenging mission in mind.

The mission is Dr. Ferdinand Piech's. The VW boss challenged his engineers more than a decade ago to develop a practical, everyday 1-liter car for the showroom. In case you're wondering, "1 liter," in this case, has nothing to do with engine displacement. Rather, it refers to a car that can travel 100 kilometers — or 62 miles — on a single liter of fuel. This is how fuel consumption is measured in mainland Europe, with 1 liter equivalent to 0.26 gallon and a spectacular 240-mpg fuel consumption.

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vdiv - 3/8/2013 4:11:14 PM

+2 Boost

It is easy to find flaws with the XL1 and the company's commitment to electrified vehicles. High price, questionable appeal, limited practicality, performance, production, etc., etc.

The car is a pure engineering marvel. It demonstrates that VW can do great thing.

What matters is that VAG seems to be finally seriously considering plug-in vehicles and with their size and influence plug-in VWs and Audis can quickly change the landscape.

Now they just need to do it and put plugins on the market.

mpls - 3/9/2013 4:48:23 AM

+2 Boost

Don't think they can change the landscape with an plug-in anytime soon.. unless they can come up with a leap in battery technology .. and VW are not leaders in battery technology.
Current leaders in Plugin & Hybrid can do the same as VW and produce headline MPG rates and produce a non-protacical, high price, low production car but choose not to do so..