New VW hybrid shows off composite components in the capital
Volkswagen’s new two-seat diesel-electric hybrid vehicle, which has a white carbon fibre body shell, made its debut in the UK last month.
The body of the XL1 is made largely of carbon-fibre reinforced polymer, while its drivetrain melds a two-cylinder 800 cc diesel engine with an electric motor. The car is said to achieve a fuel consumption figure of 313 mpg while emitting 21 g/km of carbon dioxide.
To achieve the target fuel consumption figure the XL1 was aerodynamically optimised, adopting a ‘tear drop’ shape and utilising innovations such as removing traditional wing mirrors and replacing them with small cameras called e-Mirrors which transmit exterior images to interior displays.