"We will start small series production by 2013 - in Germany," said Volkswagen chairman Martin Winterkorn.
The most striking feature of the XL1 concept, however, was its claimed fuel efficiency of 0.9 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers, which translates to an EPA rating of 261.3 mpg.
Helping to return those figures was the combination of a 47 horsepower 0.8L two-cylinder diesel engine along with a 27 horsepower electric motor. Allied with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the plug-in hybrid was far from quick but posted a zero-to-60 mph time of 11.9 seconds, which was respectable given its focus on fuel efficiency.
No word on how much the XL1's drivetrain or bodywork can be expected to change for production. Initial reports speculated that the car would be built in a limited run of about 100 units, which makes sense given that the car's lightweight construction and fuel-saving technology will likely conspire to put the price far out of reach of many consumers.
References
1.'Report: Production Volkswagen...' view
