2010 Volkswagen L1 Concept

To the Point: Breakthrough for the 1-Litre Car - Volkswagen presents the most fuel-efficient automobile in the world

- L1 Concept is driven by new high-tech TDI and E-motor
- Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic body of the L1 weighs just 124 kilograms
- Maximum speed 160 km/h; L1 consumes just 1.38 litres diesel per 100 km
- CO2 emissions reduced to a new best value with just 36 g/km

Wolfsburg / Frankfurt, 15 September 2009 - Technological breakthrough for the 1-litre fuel consumption car: International Motor Show (IAA), Volkswagen is presenting the concept of the future L1 in a world premiere that points the way toward the production version. The full hybrid vehicle weighs just 380 kilograms thanks to its carbon-fibre reinforced body (CFRB). With a combined fuel consumption figure of 1.38 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres, this extremely aerodynamic (Cd 0.195!) Volkswagen suitable for everyday use is intended to become the most fuel-efficient automobile in the world. CO2 emissions of the 160 km/h L1 are similarly low at 36 g/km.

Retrospective: Seven years ago, Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, at that time Chairman of the Board of Management and today Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group, drove a prototype from Wolfsburg to Hamburg that was unlike any other car before it: the Volkswagen 1-Litre car – the world's first car with fuel consumption of one litre fuel per 100 kilometres. The man and machine wrote automotive history. In April 2002, however, it was also clear that the time for a production version of the 1-Litre car lay far in the future. Production of the body itself – from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) – was not realistic due to cost considerations. Yet, in 2002 Dr. Ferdinand Piëch already prophesised that the time would soon come for the 1-Litre car and CFRP as a material for industrial applications. By 2009 the time had come: Volkswagen is making a clear statement at the IAA in Frankfurt (September 17 to 27) with the second generation of this ingenious car: The L1 represents a step forward into the future with completely new technology and a new design; revolutionary yet close to production readiness.

'It is an enormous challenge to control costs in producing the monocoque out of CFRP,' says Dr. Úlrich Hackenberg, member of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen Brand with responsibility for development. Both technically and visually, the CFRP body is already considered a significant achievement in car design. Únique on this car are the proportions of its dimensions. While the length of the L1 at 3,813 millimetres is still similar to that of a Volkswagen Fox, and its height of 1,143 millimetres nearly matches that of a Lamborghini Murciélago, the car's aerodynamically optimised width (1,200 millimetres) has no comparisons in the world of today's production cars.

L1 philosophy – defining a new type of automobile

In developing both prototype generations of the L1, Volkswagen simply questioned everything that typically characterised an automobile. The key starting point was body construction, and a core question was raised here: How would a car have to look and be built to consume as little energy as possible? The logical answer: extremely aerodynamic and lightweight. Yet these objectives had to be achieved under a non-negotiable precondition: a maximum of safety. The approach taken: a narrow two-seater with a CFRP body!

The seat layout fitting this design goal was dictated by the uncompromising aerodynamic form of a glider: One seat behind the other. Entry to the concept car is also similar to that of a glider; through a roof cover hinged at the side. On this second generation of the L1, the concept has been further honed; each component has been redesigned, a special chassis with aluminium components was developed, and above all the crucial CFRP technology from Formula-1 racing and airplane construction was transferred to automotive manufacturing. This has been combined with a unique form of hybrid drive to create a near-production vehicle. 2013 is the target year for this future dream to become a reality.

Source - Volkswagen

Volkswagen Shows Future Course of the Automobile

Únveiling of one-litre concept car and electric car at IAA 2009

Wolfsburg/ Frankfurt, 15 September 2009 - At the 63rd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Volkswagen is presenting a pioneering fleet of sustainable automobiles as an update on the future. Its IAA premieres range from the world's most fuel-efficient production cars (BlueMotion) and hybrid technology to the L1 – a new study with one-litre fuel consumption – and an electric car, the E-Úp!

'One of the basic milestones in the near automotive future is the mass produced electric car. Yet, to be a resounding success such an electric car must be affordable to a broad customer base as well as uncompromisingly practical in everyday driving,' says Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group, at yesterday's presentation of the E-Úp! in the Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt.

The zero-emissions concept car designed under the leadership of Dr. Úlrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Brand, and Head of the Development business area, is based on modules of the New Small Family anticipated for the year 2011, but at a length of 3.19 meters it is even more compact. The powerful and clean lines of the E-Úp! body reflect par excellence styling based on the new Volkswagen 'design DNA', and the car shows cult potential.

The 3+1 seater, with a top speed of 135 km/h, is powered by an electric motor with a peak power of 60 kW (continuous power: 40 kW). From a stop, the front-mounted engine of the front-wheel drive car develops a maximum torque of 210 Newton-meter. The driver activates forward or reverse gear by a pushbutton on the centre console. The E-Úp! will very clearly be fun to drive; one indication is its classic 0-to-100 km/h sprint performance of 11.3 seconds. On the one hand, this dynamic performance is due to the excellent torque characteristic of the electric motor, and on the other to the low kerb weight of the E-Úp! of just 1,085 kilograms.

Today, Volkswagen is also celebrating the world premiere of the most fuel-efficient car in the world, the L1. This full-hybrid vehicle, weighing just 380 kilograms, offers an initial glimpse at how a production version might appear. The CFRP body is a masterful achievement in car making, both technically and visually. Únique on this car are its proportions. While the length of the L1 at 3,813 millimetres is still similar to that of a Volkswagen Fox, and its height of 1,143 millimetres nearly matches that of a Lamborghini Murciélago, the car's aerodynamically optimised width (1,200 millimetres) has no comparisons in the world of today's production cars.

With a combined fuel consumption value of 1.38 litres diesel, this Volkswagen – designed for everyday use and extremely aerodynamic (Cd of 0.195!) – will become a world champion fuel-saver. CO2 emissions of the 160 km/h L1 are 36 g/km. The TDI, E-motor and 7-speed DSG are installed at the rear; as a unit they represent the most fuel efficient hybrid drive in the world. In the standard 'ECO' mode, the 800 cm3 TDI develops a power of 20 kW / 27 PS (at 4,000 rpm); in 'Sport' mode – used to reach the car's top speed, for example – the car's power increases to 29 kW / 39 PS (at 4,000 rpm). The maximum torque of the TDI is 100 Newton-meter (at 1,900 rpm). Naturally, the L1 also has a Stop-Start system, which automatically shuts off the drive unit when the vehicle is at a stop and restarts it when the gas or E-pedal is pressed.

In total, the Volkswagen brand is represented by seven world premieres at the 2009 International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Along with the E-Úp! and L1, they include the Polo Three-Door as the new entry-level version in the Polo model range, new BlueMotion versions of the Polo, Golf and Passat with record fuel economy and the Golf R as the highest performance Golf ever produced.

Source - Volkswagen

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