It was during the March WoB Trip that I sat in the XL 1 concept. This 2 cylinder diesel/hybrid plug in was designed to achieve 0.9 l/ 100 km, using lightweight materials like carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) and a streamlined body with a 0.189 coefficient of friction.. With an 800cc TDI engine capable of 48ps and an electric motor generating up to 27ps, this 795kg car could also top out at 100 mph on a limitless Autobahn. A limited 250 of these vehicles were available to 200 customers at a price of 115k Euros. Well there is now a sporting version. The XL 1 Sport It sure does look sporty and then you read the details. Revs up to greater than 12000 rpm, achieves 200 bhp and a top speed of 168mph! This little name gives a clue to it's performance. How is that possible? Remember Volkswagen owns Ducati. That Italian motorcycle company that produces the worlds most powerful 2 cylinder motorcycle. The Ducati 1199 Superleggera The 1198cc V twin develops the power and torque as below. Therefore it was a case of, out with the TDI oil burner/hybrid plug in and in with a 1.2 litre engine from the Ducati 1199 Superleggera (Italian for light) and you have this exclusive car. Like the XL 1, only 250 XL 1 Sports will be built at the former Karmann facility at Osnabruck. These pictures were taken at GTI international 2015. Layout of the car showing the powertrain and main chassis ingredients.
I am sure a bike engine'd thing crescendoing to 11000 rpm on a quick blat through the gears = music to the petrol head. Will love to see one tested indeed!