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The Frankfurt
Motor Show marks the debut of
the revolutionary new Volkswagen
L1 Concept – a diesel-electric
hybrid vehicle constructed from
aluminium and carbon fibre
weighing just 380 kg and capable
of returning 189 mpg on the
combined cycle while emitting
just 39 g/km of CO2.
The L1 can seat
two occupants in tandem. They
enter through a side-hinging,
electrically operated canopy to
maximise the aerodynamic
efficiency of the L1 Concept.
The result is a remarkable
co-efficient of drag figure of
just 0.195.
Not only is the
body extremely aerodynamic but
it’s also very light and strong.
The safety cell, constructed
from carbon fibre reinforced
plastic, weighs just 124 kg. At
3,813 mm in length, the L1
Concept is comparable to the Fox
yet at just 1,143 mm in height
it’s as low as a Lamborghini
Murcielago. Its width, at just
1,200 mm, is narrower than any
conventional car on sale today.
The driving
environment shares more in
common with an aircraft than a
car. The adjustable front seat
is thin and constructed from
carbon while the rear passenger
sits in a fixed seat built into
the monocoque. The driver has
an excellent view of the road
and sits behind an instrument
panel set into the body of the
car. The rear view mirror is
replaced by an organic
light-emitting diode display
while the main controls for the
operation of the vehicle are
grouped around the steering
wheel.
Every element of
the L1 Concept is intended to
maximise efficiency. At its
heart is a tiny 800 cc
two-cylinder common rail, direct
injection TDI engine. In ‘ECO’
mode the engine develops 27 PS
at 4,000 rpm, in ‘Sport’ mode
this rises to 29 PS and 74 lbs
ft of torque developed at 1,900
rpm.
The modest kerb
weight of the L1 Concept linked
to efficient aerodynamics mean that
it is capable of accelerating to
62 mph from rest in 14.3 seconds
before reaching a top speed of
99 mph. Despite having only a
10-litre fuel tank the L1
Concept’s incredible efficiency
means that it is capable of
travelling 416 miles between
stops.
The 800 cc engine
is derived from the 1.6-litre
TDI engine found in the new Golf
BlueMotion, also making its
debut at the Frankfurt Show.
The two have identical cylinder
spacing, bore and stroke as well
as exhaust gas recirculation and
diesel particulate filters to
ensure they meet and exceed the
Euro-5 emissions regulations.
Under normal
conditions the 14 PS electric
motor is inactive, only engaging
when additional acceleration is
required, delivering 40 per cent
extra torque. In addition, the
electric motor can take over
from the engine to power the L1
Concept for short distances.
The L1 Concept
draws inspiration from the
original 1-litre car, unveiled
in April 2002 when Dr. Ferdinand
Piëch, then Chairman of the
Board of Management, drove the
concept between Wolfsburg and
Hamburg. At that time
productionising the carbon fibre
reinforced plastic body was
simply not viable. With modern
production processes,
large-scale manufacture of such
structures is now possible. |
