Volkswagen's 261-mpg hand-built XL1 headed for Geneva

Volkswagen XL1 production car - front three-quarter viewAfter years of rumors, development and testing, the Volkswagen XL1 is finally about to become a reality. The project that began life as a daring 1-Liter concept car in 2002, will finally get its production-ready curtain call at the Geneva Motor Show in just a few weeks.


As soon as it hits the streets, the two-seat XL1 will instantly become the most fuel-efficient and most aerodynamic production car in the world. The car uses a plug-in hybrid system to achieve mind-blowing consumption of just 0.9 liters of diesel fuel consumed every 100 kilometers (and average of roughly 261 miles per gallon). Plus, the XL1 can go up to 50 kilometers on its battery power alone. Coefficient of drag is a miniscule 0.189, thanks to a tiny frontal area and an obviously slippery shape.


XL1 power comes from a 47-horsepower, two-cylinder diesel motor connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, while the 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor is fed by a lithium-ion battery. Both combine to give the XL1 performance figures that are, while not stirring, not shabby considering its extreme frugality: 0-62 miles per hour comes up in 12.7 seconds and top speed is nearly 100 mph.


There's still no word as to how many examples of the XL1 Volkswagen plans to build, nor how much the company intends to charge for each. The press release does mention that the car will be constructed using "handcrafting-like production methods" though, so we're guessing that it won't be cheap or ubiquitous – not by a long shot. Early rumors had a six-figure price tag attached, suggesting the XL1 be viewed as more of a green halo supercar for VW than a volume proposition.

Via AutoBlog

Next Volkswagen Golf R to get 286 horsepower?

2012 Volkswagen Golf R - front three-quarter viewThe seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf hasn't launched in the United States just yet, but we're already setting our sights on the range-topping R model. According to Autocar, the next Golf R will be more powerful than the current version, producing 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful production Golf ever.

Powering the new Golf R will be a further evolution of Volkswagen's well-liked 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, and when mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, the hotter hatch will reportedly be able to sprint to 62 miles per hour in five seconds flat. That's over half a second quicker than the current US-spec model.

Other updates for the new Golf R include the addition of VW's Haldex 5 all-wheel-drive system found in the latest iteration of 4Motion. Furthermore, thanks to the use of lightweight materials, the new R is expected to weigh in around 2,650 pounds – that's a massive 675 pounds less than the current US-spec car. The exhaust has reportedly been reworked to provide more aural delight, as well.

Herein lies the rub, though: It's unclear whether or not Volkswagen will offer this same power upgrade in the States. After all, the current US-spec Golf R is rated at 256 hp and 243 lb-ft while its Euro counterpart produces 270 hp and 258 lb-ft. What's more, European versions can be had with the delicious six-speed DSG, whereas US models are only available with the six-speed manual 'box. Volkswagen's US arm tells Autoblog that since the car is still so far off, "there is no final decision" on whether our car will be identical to the Euro model.

Autocar reports that the Euro-spec Golf R will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, with the first cars hitting the streets of Europe in early 2014.

 

Via AutoBlog

Volkswagen Starts off 2012 with a 6.7% Increase in Sales

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Herndon, VA -  Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) today reported 29,018 units sold in January, a 6.7 percent increase over prior year sales. The company achieved 29 consecutive months of year-over-year growth and the best January since 1974. Over the last three years, the company has more than doubled its annual sales volume, demonstrating its long-term growth strategy, Mach 18, is gaining momentum in the U.S. market. 

 

“With all the buzz that comes with the North American International Auto Show, the release of our Super Bowl advertisement, “Get Happy,” and a full line-up of new and refreshed vehicles, Volkswagen is off to a solid start in 2013,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “While the economic conditions continue to be somewhat uncertain, we expect Volkswagen to achieve continued growth and to outpace the industry this year.” 

 

Volkswagen’s 60-second Super Bowl XLVII advertisement stays true to the brand’s storytelling heritage of “human stories, told simply.” It builds on the upbeat themes of recent ads, “Smiles”, released in September 2012, and last year’s Super Bowl spot, “The Dog Strikes Back,” named a leading 2012 ad on YouTube by Google. In 2011, VW released “The Force” Super Bowl ad, which received more than 56 million YouTube hits to date, and was recently named one of the best ads in the past 24 years by USA Today. 

 

Last week, Volkswagen teased its 2013 Game Day spot with “Sunny Side,” featuring well-known YouTube sensations, and renowned reggae artist Jimmy Cliff singing “The Partridge Family’s” theme, “C’mon, Get Happy.” 

 

The Chattanooga-built Passat continues to deliver strong results with 8,856 units sold, marking its best January ever.

 

Jetta sedan remains the volume leader for Volkswagen with sales totaling 9,089. With the addition of the Jetta Turbo Hybrid, Volkswagen now offers seven cars that can deliver more than 40 mpg on the highway – a feat no other automaker can match in the United States. 

 

Recently recognized as “best in class vehicle in the $20,000 – $25,000 price range” in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance 2013 buyer’s guide, the Jetta TDI demonstrates its strong consumer appeal and class-leading fuel economy in the compact sedan segment.

 

The Beetle and Beetle Convertible sold a combined 2,232 units. The Golf saw a 24.9 percent increase in January sales with 1,532 units delivered. A new North American produced Golf will soon be added to line up. Production of the seventh generation Golf “A7”will commence the first quarter of 2014 at the Volkswagen de México manufacturing facility in Puebla, Mexico. This latest move reinforces the Volkswagen’s commitment to the North American market, where it will invest more than $5 billion in the next three years.

 

Sport Utility Vehicles, Tiguan and Touareg reported sales of 2,114 and 962 units, respectively. 

 

Volkswagen’s high-mileage, clean diesel TDI models account for 19 percent of sales in January, a 14.7 percent increase over the prior year.

 

Via VW Media Newsroom