This first drive video of the Volkswagen XL1 Concept by MotorTrend is far from exciting. But its informative nature brings us to an interesting piece of news right at the end: Volkswagen insists that a small run of its concept could make it to production to prove that a 0.9 l/100 km fuel consumption car exists, and to provide a citycar model for Bugatti owners.

It’s an interesting proposition, if unlikely at first glance. The Toyota iQ is being dressed up as an Aston Martin Cygnet to provide those customers with a citycar, so it makes sense that other supercar owners don’t always get out their pride and joy for everyday driving. Would their daily car of choice be a Volkswagen XL1, though?

The idea comes from the fact that the XL1 Concept has a full carbon-fibre body, making it an extremely expensive car to produce. The vehicle measures 3.88 metres long, 1.66 wide and 1.15 high, but weighs just 795 kg. It runs off a plug-in hybrid system with an 800cc turbodiesel engine, 48 hp and 120 Nm of torque. The electric motor provides an additional 27 hp and 100 Nm, and there is a seven-speed DSG gearbox.

The XL1 can do 35 km in electric mode, top speed is 160 km/hr and acceleration to 100 km/hr is less than 12 seconds. It’s a valid car, although the brakes and steering are not power assisted so that is a challenge for first drivers. Volkswagen has also done its best to give it a sports car feel with stiffer suspension. Whether that all makes for a citycar likely to appeal to Bugatti customers is another question alltogether.

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