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 380kg thanks to its carbon-fibre reinforced body (CFRB). With a combined fuel consumption figure of 1.49 litres of diesel per 100km, this fully road-ready and extremely aerodynamic Volkswagen is intended to become the most fuel-efficient automobile in the world. CO2 emissions of the 160km/h L1 are similarly low at 39g/km.
Seven years ago, Dr Ferdinand Pi‘ch, 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 1L - the world's first car with fuel consumption of one litre fuel per 100km. The man and machine wrote automotive history.
In April 2002, however, it was also clear that the time for a production version of the 1L lay far in the future. Production of the body itself - from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) - was not realistic due to cost considerations.
By 2009, the time had come: Volkswagen made a clear statement at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 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.
Both technically and visually, the CFRP body is already considered a significant achievement in car design. Unique on this car are the proportions of its dimensions. While the length of the L1 at 3,813mm is still similar to that of a Volkswagen Fox, and its height is 1,143mm, the car's aerodynamically optimised width (1,200mm) has no comparisons in the world of today's production cars.
The L1, equipped with ABS and ESP, has a top speed of up to 160km/h - this is remarkable considering its fuel efficiency. With maximum acceleration from a standstill, the two-seater reaches 100km/h after just 14.3 seconds.
