Thursday 24th October 2013

VW XL1: 119,000 euros [Updated]

VW's XL1 bids for future classic status as price and 200-unit production run announced

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VW's XL1 is a pioneer in many ways, not least its apparent ambition to become the first true eco collector's car. Apparent confirmation that just 200 will be built and sold at a price of 119,000 euros whips up further excitement around this groundbreaking car.

The first pin-up car of the eco age?

A diesel hybrid, causing a buzz on PH and on the brink of joining the supercar elite in terms of price and desirability? Unusual times indeed but it's a measure of how the XL1 has captured the imagination that VW has elected to maintain the car's exclusivity by limiting production to such an extent. Ironic though that this very desirability will probably see few ever making use of that extended range - it'll do 600 miles to a tank of fuel but as collector's items how many will even use up that first 10 litres of fuel?

Why the fuss though? Well, you can read Matt's first taste of the XL1 here and Harris has been Tweeting his praise after a quick go earlier in the week. Tree hugger or not, the XL1's coolness transcends typical automotive divides and as a design and technology curiosity ticks all the boxes. For geeks like us Piech's subtle nods to the Porsche 917 don't do any harm either.

At the time of writing we had no official confirmation of the price or production run from VW despite the original story on 4WheelsNews claiming thus; as soon as we do we'll keep you posted.

Either way, if the XL1 is going to cost a lot to buy it's probably a fraction of what it will have cost VW to make...

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Update:
We spoke with VW UK and though the price hasn't been confirmed here or in Germany (the 'official' figure in the original story appears to be ... unofficial) the ballpark figure for UK cars would be in the region of £90,000.

The production figure is, however, correct with 200 customer cars scheduled for completion following the 50 pre-production cars already built and in circulation for appraisal, media drives and the rest. This batch of 200 customer cars will include 'minor refinements' before delivery over these initial 50 cars.

Sales of the XL1 will apparently be managed centrally from VW HQ in Germany via local dealers, with 'up to 30' expected in the UK.

[Original source: 4WheelsNews]

 

 

 

 

[Dempsey1971]

A little confused by this. Surely, with an Eco project, the aim is to get the maximum number of people using it to have the greatest impact on the environment.
At this price, it will be rare and have no impact.
Great technology, but how will this capture the imagination of non-PHers if it is never seen?

[daveco]

How is this any better than Honda's original hybrid, the Insight?

That was also;
-lightweight and hybrid
-had its rear wheels covered
-had amazing mpg
-probably limited edition at this point too

So you're effectively paying €119,000 for a set of gullwing/scissor doors?

[kambites]

Dempsey1971 said:

A little confused by this. Surely, with an Eco project, the aim is to get the maximum number of people using it to have the greatest impact on the environment.

I don't think the idea is that the XL1 itself will have any appreciable effect on automotive emissions. It's a technical demonstrator, nothing more.

[mrclav]

Think of this as a "halo" car; there will definitely be a much much cheaper version!

I'm sure VAG has every intention of mass marketing something like this but bleeding edge technology is never cheap and I think with all the innovations this car has the trickle effect may take a while but it'll happen.

[kambites]

daveco said:

How is this any better than Honda's original hybrid, the Insight?

If the figures are to be believed, surely it is much more economical?

[daveco]

kambites said:

daveco said:

How is this any better than Honda's original hybrid, the Insight?

If the figures are to be believed, surely it is much more economical?

From wiki
"The 2000 Insight ranks as the most efficient United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified gasoline-fueled vehicle ever, with a highway rating of 61 miles per US gallon (3.9 L/100 km; 73 mpg-imp) and combined city/highway rating of 53 miles per US gallon (4.4 L/100 km; 64 mpg-imp"

[exceed]

VERY confused by this, £100+k for an eco box?!

Why...? This needs to be around £30k, if they can't make a profit out of it at that price point why sell it at all?

If I have £100+k to spend on a car the last thing I care about is how often I have to fuel it...

[kambites]

daveco said:

kambites said:

daveco said:

How is this any better than Honda's original hybrid, the Insight?

If the figures are to be believed, surely it is much more economical?

From wiki
"The 2000 Insight ranks as the most efficient United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified gasoline-fueled vehicle ever, with a highway rating of 61 miles per US gallon (3.9 L/100 km; 73 mpg-imp) and combined city/highway rating of 53 miles per US gallon (4.4 L/100 km; 64 mpg-imp"

OK then, four times as economical since I think VW were aiming for 1l/100km (I think that's what the L1 bit of the name stands for?). .

[kambites]

exceed said:

VERY confused by this, £100+k for an eco box?!

Why...? This needs to be around £30k, if they can't make a profit out of it at that price point why sell it at all?

If I have £100+k to spend on a car the last thing I care about is how often I have to fuel it...

You are not the target market.

[chrisw666]

Article said:

it'll do 600 miles to a tank of fuel

I don't usually nit pick but that isn't really impressive without knowing the size of the fuel tank.

[k-ink]

VW design their most inspiring car for decades then decide to not mass produce it. WTF. Waste of time.

[daveco]

kambites said:

daveco said:

kambites said:

daveco said:

How is this any better than Honda's original hybrid, the Insight?

If the figures are to be believed, surely it is much more economical?

From wiki
"The 2000 Insight ranks as the most efficient United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified gasoline-fueled vehicle ever, with a highway rating of 61 miles per US gallon (3.9 L/100 km; 73 mpg-imp) and combined city/highway rating of 53 miles per US gallon (4.4 L/100 km; 64 mpg-imp"

OK then, four times as economical since I think VW were aiming for 1l/100km (I think that's what the L1 bit of the name stands for?). .

Realistically, how can it achieve this figure unless it plans to find a very long hill??

[kambites]

chrisw666 said:

Article said:

it'll do 600 miles to a tank of fuel

I don't usually nit pick but that isn't really impressive without knowing the size of the fuel tank.

It sort of implies it in the next line - it's a 10 litre tank.

[kambites]

daveco said:

Realistically, how can it achieve this figure unless it plans to find a very long hill??

It'll be interesting to see what road testers actually get out of it.

[daveco]

kambites said:

daveco said:

Realistically, how can it achieve this figure unless it plans to find a very long hill??

It'll be interesting to see what road testers actually get out of it.

I shall be watching closely!

Looking at the original Insight, its figures were
840kg kerb weight
67hp + 13hp electric engine
Cd of 0.25

Compared to the XL1
795kg kerb weight
47hp + 27hp electric engine
Cd of ???

I'd say the DSG box and superior aerodynamics might give it a noticeable edge...but 4/5 times as economical?

[kambites]

daveco said:

I shall be watching closely!

Looking at the original Insight, its figures were
840kg kerb weight
67hp + 13hp electric engine
Cd of 0.25

Compared to the XL1
795kg kerb weight
47hp + 27hp electric engine
Cd of ???

I'd say the DSG box and superior aerodynamics might give it a noticeable edge...but 4/5 times as economical?

I suppose the question is how far the power-unit technology has come on since the Insight.

[Leithen]

So back of a fag packet sums which are probably entirely wrong - you'd need to do 800,000 more miles than a diesel golf to make the 300+mpg pay for the bonkers price tag?

[kambites]

KimJongHealthy said:

I wonder how safe will it be? With kerb significantly lower than a Micra...

Probably pretty safe if you hit something solid, and not very safe if something heavy hits you... that tends to be the case with light cars.

[320touring]

kambites said:

I suppose the question is how far the power-unit technology has come on since the Insight.

the shift from a petrol engine to diesel probably helps, and the diesel lump is considerably smaller.

I'm shocked at the (alleged) pricing strategy- especially as the BMW i3 is less than a quarter of the price, and the range extender could be in a direct competition to the XL1

[kambites]

320touring said:

I'm shocked at the (alleged) pricing strategy- especially as the BMW i3 is less than a quarter of the price, and the range extender could be in a direct competition to the XL1

The i3 is a very different car. The XL1 is a hugely specialised proof of concept; the BMW is a serious attempt at a production car.

Lets be realistic, even at that price they aren't going to struggle to sell 200 of them.