Volkswagen XL1 to cost almost £100k in the UK

Posted 23rd October, 2013 in Volkswagen | Leave a comment

According to reports, Volkswagen’s XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle will carry an eye-watering price tag approaching £100,000 (€117,500) in the United Kingdom.

Just 200 examples will be built at the company’s Osnabrueck plant in Germany, with between 20 and 30 units expected to make it to British shores. Volkswagen has apparently had no shortage of interested parties, but will hand-pick specific customers based on their suitability.

Powering this quirky machine is a combination of an 800 cc two-cylinder TDI engine, developing 35 kW (48 hp) and 120 Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission, along with an electric motor producing 20 kW (27 hp) and 100 Nm. On the road, a top speed of 160 km/h is achievable, with 100 km/h appearing in 12,7 seconds. Amazingly, the XL1 is able to cruise at 100 km/h using a mere 6.2 kW (8 hp), while in electric-only mode it requires less than 0.1 kWh to cover one kilometre, and can cover a range of up to 35 km.

The most aerodynamic car ever made, with a Cd figure of 0.189, the XL1 tips the scales at a mere 795 kg, helping it to return an insane fuel consumption figure of 0.9 l/100 km (around 313 mpg) and 21 g/km of CO2.

If the price is a little out of your league, last year, Volkswagen’s Ulrich Hackenberg confirmed that a two-cylinder engine derived from the XL1 will be making its way into the up! city car.