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Volkswagen has designed a new ‘super efficient’ coupe capable of 300mpg and 24g/km for the Qatar Motor Show.
The Volkswagen XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle (SEV) uses a small two-cylinder common rail diesel engine developing 48PS. It will be complemented by an electric motor adding a further 75PS to the total.
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The powertrain, which allows for 35km on electric power alone before the diesel engine kicks in, is matched to a seven-speed DSG gearbox with automatic clutch.
The total of 75PS seems low for a car measuring nearly four metres in length and 1.7 metres wide, but Volkswagen claims the lightweight build of the car will counteract the low power input.
Weighing in at 795kg, the XL1 uses Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) for the body – a material last seen on the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento concept unveiled last year.
It isn’t the only nod to the VW-owned supercar manufacturer – the distinctive back end borrows from the famous Lamborghini sloping rear. The height of the car (1.18m) is closer to that of a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, creating a mix of coupe and supercar styling.
Performance figures are more modest. Accelerating from 0-62mph will take 11.9 seconds and the LX1 is capable of a top speed of 99mph where legal.
Elsewhere, the car tapers towards the rear, and the back wheels are covered by the lightweight but strong body shell.
This is not purely cosmetic, wind tunnel tests on the XL1 concept show the car offers low drag, which goes some way to explaining the massive 313mpg fuel economy figure.
Inside, this limits space to just two seats in a staggered pattern. The passenger seat is set slightly back from the driver and both are accessed through upwards-opening gull-wing doors.
The car is not expected to enter production in any form in the near future. Instead, it is the third concept car designed to display advances in Super Efficient technology from Volkswagen.
Materials such as the CFRP would be too expensive to consider for a full production car, but Volkswagen has introduced a new system, Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM), to manufacture the parts.
This, says Volkswagen, is a ‘significant milestone’ towards more efficient vehicles in future.
The Volkswagen XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle will be displayed at the Qatar Motor Show this week.