Green cars in Europe would not be what they are today without the embargoes forced upon them by the London Congestion Charge. You can't enter the British capital with a gas guzzler these days unless you've got a huge bank account, which is why most residents have to buy sub-100g/km cars, usually hybrids.
But there's one hybrid that promises to best those numbers by a long shot. It's the XL1, a revolutionary idea from Volkswagen that combines lightweight materials, diesel and electric power with cool styling from the future.
The XL1 gets about London using the combined output of a 0.8-liter turbodiesel, half of a 1.6 TDI, and an electric motor that provides 20 kW (27 PS), all sent to the wheels via an efficient 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG).
The XL! is a strict two-seater, but it still offers a lot of practicality and at just 3,888 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and 1,153 mm tall, it's smaller than a Polo and thus easier to weave in and out of traffic.
What we like about it is that it's still a Volkswagen. The indicators, the gear shifter, the buttons for the air conditioning or the nappa seats will be instantly recognizable to a Scirocco owner.
The XL1 gets about London using the combined output of a 0.8-liter turbodiesel, half of a 1.6 TDI, and an electric motor that provides 20 kW (27 PS), all sent to the wheels via an efficient 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG).
The XL! is a strict two-seater, but it still offers a lot of practicality and at just 3,888 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and 1,153 mm tall, it's smaller than a Polo and thus easier to weave in and out of traffic.
What we like about it is that it's still a Volkswagen. The indicators, the gear shifter, the buttons for the air conditioning or the nappa seats will be instantly recognizable to a Scirocco owner.
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