Futurist Volkswagen XL1: 261 Miles per Gallon

The VW XL 1 at the Qatar Motor Show 2011

/ Volkswagen

What with gasoline prices at the pump well past $3 a gallon - and edging ever higher - drivers understandably are pining for the day when technology will come to their rescue.

If you're willing to wait a couple of years, though, Volkswagen may have what you're waiting for.

At an auto show in Qatar this week, Volkswagen showed off a proof-of-concept car that will get 261 miles to the gallon. The XL1, a two cylinder, two-seater made from carbon fiber, is expected to go into production sometime in the next two years. If the auto's fuel efficiency lives up to the advance billing, VW likely will be able to say it makes the world's most economical car.

This is a retooled design of a concept vehicle that the company initially showed at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show. At the time, VW said the car would get almost 170 miles per gallon.

The idea got an early thumbs up from Consumer Reports, which wrote that the "the XL1 demonstrates how far relatively conventional technology take fuel economy. It will be interesting to see if Volkswagen is able to bring this car to market overseas and how successfully they can bring down the cost of producing the carbon-fiber body."

Volkswagen is not the only automaker planning to make carbon fiber autos; so are BMW and Mercedes.

You can find the full spec list here.

6 Photos

Volkswagen's XL1: A Tech Breakthrough in Auto Design

[incog-nito]

Now THIS is the right way to do it. The electrics are too impractical and expensive to be widely adopted. And it's a good thing they brought back aerodynamics. Too many cars have abandoned efficient design, and compensate by using massive, gaz-guzzling engines. If they can keep the price reasonable, maybe by substituting carbon fiber for a less expensive material, they'll have a winner. Even if the MPG drops to 100, it would still be a good deal.

[gdinsb]

I'd love to buy a car like this, but even in a conventional small car driving these days is pretty scary. Way too many massive vehicles driven by people who feel they own the road.

While carbon fiber is a strong material, the real danger is the difference in momentum. A light vehicle loses badly in any collision. Right now if an SUV hits a sedan, it has a fighting chance. This car vs. an SUV is more like a conventional car vs. a semi.

[tsigili]

A 2 cylinder engine? Sounds like it will have about as much pep as a dremel tool.

Carbon fiber body? Just how safe is that, when some maniac rams into you? Doesn't do any good to save money, if it will get you killed.

[rightbehind]

Carbon fiber composites are stronger than steel and super light weight. The 2 cylinder engine may be more than enough carrying very little wasted weight. No rust or excessive wear on parts carrying the extra weight useless weight of steel. Unfortunately here in the US ideology leads the way instead of technology. We're in a race to the bottom.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Doubt it..looks like it will be pushing too much air to get that kind of mileage. Everything that claims to be aerodynamic now a days is "as aerodynamic as an elephant." Companies are focused on reducing drag rather than creating an actual slipstream that would actually reduce consumption and drag at the same time. I actually saw a scientist improve the mileage of a semi by 51% without making any modifications to the engine. All he did was make it more aerodynamic. It was ugly as hell, but it worked.