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World’s Most Efficient Find: Volkswagen XL-1

I’ve had the opportunity to write about some pretty unusual cars during my life, but this Volkswagen is definitely up there with the best of them. The XL-1 was developed by Volkswagen to snatch the crown as the World’s most fuel-efficient car, and this it managed to do. With a total production of only 200 cars worldwide, these are an extremely rare sight on the road, and that rarity also translates into high vehicle values. Unfortunately, the owner has only provided two frontal photos of the car in his add, but I was able to locate a number of photos from Volkswagen to provide a bit of an overview of the car. If you want to get your hands on this XL-1, you will need to get yourself to Sassenberg, Germany, with the car listed for sale here on eBay. I have to thank Barn Finder Marcus G for spotting this unusual car for us.

Volkswagen has always been willing to break new ground with its cars. The original Beetle and the Golf and Polo BlueMotion being good examples. With the XL-1, Volkswagen was determined to build the World’s most fuel-efficient production car, and with their own technological knowledge base, coupled with the technological know-how of Porsche and Bugatti, they set to work developing the car. The XL-1 uses very little steel in its construction, utilizing mainly carbon composites, titanium, and magnesium to build a strong but light car. The styling of the vehicle is quite reminiscent of the General Motors EV-1 and the original Honda Insight, but with aerodynamic efficiency taken to a whole new level. Aerodynamic drag for the XL-1 is 30% less than the already impressive figures of both the EV-1 and Insight, while the exotic materials result in a car that weighs only 1,700lbs.

The interior continues the trend of utilizing lightweight composite materials in its construction. Seats are lightweight and feature quite thin but comfortable padding. Various vehicle reviews praise the car for its levels of comfort and leg-room. What they are less generous about is the amount of external noise that is transferred into the vehicle. With thin and light materials, there isn’t a lot of scope for natural sound insulation, and additional sound deadening materials are used sparingly to aid weight minimization. The XL-1 doesn’t feature external mirrors, as these would create drag. Instead, they use miniature cameras, with a small LCD screen built into each door trim, and these are used in place of the normal mirrors.

The instruments and controls are very typical of those found in a modern Golf or Polo, so there’s nothing complicated there. I was unable to secure a photo of the engine, but this is the XL-1’s party piece. The car is a hybrid, much like the Insight or the Toyota Prius. The internal combustion engine in the XL-1 is an 800cc 2-cylinder diesel with a power output of 47hp, combined with an electric engine which produces 27hp. The battery range of the electric engine under normal use is around 30 miles, while the use of the diesel engine alone will produce fuel usage of around 120 mpg. If you combine the two power-plants together, it is possible to achieve a figure of 260 mpg.

With the XL-1, Volkswagen managed to achieve their stated aim, which was to build the World’s most fuel-efficient road car. Unfortunately for you, any financial gains that you may achieve in fuel savings will be more than negated by the purchase price. The owner has set an opening bid of €170,000, which on current exchange rates, is roughly $195,000. That’s a lot of money, but it is one of the rarest and most technologically advanced cars on the planet. The car was built in very limited numbers, but unfortunately for the owner, I think that his potential market is probably just as limited.

Comments

  1. Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

    Dang, come on, Powerball!

    Like 8
  2. Avatar Redwagon

    Cannot imagine showing up at my local VW dealer for service, would blow their minds.

    Not necessarily a barn find but I don’t care.

    Like 20
  3. Avatar PDXBryan

    Lord have mercy! I didn’t know they actually sold these.

    Like 6
  4. Avatar wuzjeepnowsaab

    Wow! I am so uninformed, but would for sure rather have this than a Beem i8

    Like 6
  5. Avatar robj Member

    Let’s see, 170,000 euros. That would buy about 71,675 gallons of gas. In my 8.1 L. 2002 Chev. 2500, [super gas hog] I could go 573,405 miles.

    I’m pretty sure I could swing my wife on this with the math alone. How could she say no? But, despite the “upside down” gas “savings”, pretty cool car!

    Like 12
  6. Avatar Calvin S

    And now the Prius seems like a joke.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Chris K

      When was it not?

      Like 19
  7. Avatar Danno

    I just *love* cars designed & built for extreme efficiency, there’s something inherently cool about extracting the maximum amount of utility from the least amount of energy.
    The price of these is obviously severely disproportionate to the financial gain one would get, but something this rare would turn as many heads as an F40. I wonder if there’s a kit car version, or a 3D printer file, out in the wilds of the internet, somewhere…

    Like 4
  8. Avatar Joe Defelice

    I can see a future episode of Jay Leno’s Garage featuring this… If not purchased by Jay, then I could see this ending up in Jeff Dunham’s collection and still making it on the show.

    Like 2
  9. Avatar bull

    AMAZING!!!!

    One of these VW XL-1’s showed up this last Saturday morning at our local Car’s N Coffee event Chris from the Lane Motor Museum drove their VW XL1 to the cruise in.

    Of course I had never seen one in person having read about them and there it was in person! Now on here is another for sale back in the Das Homeland.

    It’s VW XL-1 week for me!

    Like 3
    • Avatar Wiley Robinson

      Was it white? Bet I know who that was.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Chris from LMM

      Glad you enjoyed it!

      Like 0
  10. Avatar David Rhoces

    gotta hope the don’t hinges don’t weaken or you’ve got a dented roof

    Like 0
  11. Avatar bull

    AMAZING!!!!

    One of these VW XL-1’s showed up this last Saturday morning at our local Car’s N Coffee event. Chris from the Lane Motor Museum here in Nashville TN drove their VW XL1 to the cruise in.

    Of course I had never seen one in person having read about them and there it was in person! Now on here is another for sale back in the Das Homeland.

    It’s VW XL-1 week for me!

    Like 4
  12. Avatar Eric Z

    Sold by VW for 111.000€ and now 170.000€ as start offer? Nice profit if he finds an ……

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Steve S

    I have asked Volkswagen about this car and why it is not sold in the USA and they said it is not legal to have in the USA because of the weight is to light for our spec’s and it would cause problems with the oil and gas industries

    Like 2
    • Avatar Eric Z

      Not true, the real reason was that it would have failed the emission test.

      Like 6
    • Avatar Danh

      From what I understand, VW couldn’t get it to pass U.S. crash test standards.

      Like 0
  14. Avatar Michael Ridley

    Four people in the world want one of these,, And they already have it.

    Like 0

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