[Ladogaboy]

It looks like VW will be releasing the XL1 as a production car, and they are claiming that it will achieve 261 mpg (kind of funny, because that is about what my mileage was on my most recent charge up). Seeing the article, a thought suddenly occurred to me: Would the Volt have sold better if GM used a similar, misleading advertising campaign? While I'm sure VW's mileage claims are "true," they made up a metric that prevents the XL1 from being accurately compared to any other car on the road. What I'd really like to see are the XL1's Wh/mile.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motora...l1-313-mpg-beetle-22nd-century-152756434.html

 

[solar_dave]

Well GM sort of did if you remember the 203 mpg claims GM made then the Government stepped in and got a new way to measure it.

 

[Ladogaboy]

Well GM sort of did if you remember the 203 mpg claims GM made then the Government stepped in and got a new way to measure it.

Ah, I don't remember that. I was aware of the Volt, but I didn't see any/hear any actual ad copy from GM until after I had already purchased my Volt.

 

[marlow]

If they can price it below the Volt and ride and handle nearly as well, it may be real compition for the Volt.

Looks like it wouls be fun to take a test drive in.

Now, when will they release real numbers for the actual ICE milliage under real world driving conditions and the price range it will be selling in, and what will their battery warrenty be (with how much fine print)?

 

[Ladogaboy]

From the sounds of it, VW is planning for it to be a loss leader, so even as a two-seater, it might be over $40,000.

 

[MTN Ranger]

The estimated price is over $80,000 is expected to be lease only. It has an estimated U.S. efficiency of 175 MPGe. This is not surprising since it has a .8L two cylinder diesel engine and a 0-60 time of 12.7 seconds.

It is a very expensive hypermiling two seater car - talk about a small market. It's drag is impressive at .18 - similar to the EV-1. In fact the car looks like the EV-1.

http://insideevs.com/volkswagens-261-mpge-xl1-will-go-into-production/

 

[kindofblue]

I hope that thing's got some rear facing cameras. ;-)

 

[fotomoto]

Ah, I don't remember that. I was aware of the Volt, but I didn't see any/hear any actual ad copy from GM until after I had already purchased my Volt.

Yes, it was before the government came up with MPGe:

http://inhabitat.com/chevy-volt-jolts-public-debate-with-230mpg-claim/

 

[Ladogaboy]

One hold up is it won't be legal for sale in many states. One of two things must happen: A) they add side view mirrors or B) they lobby states to allow side view cameras in lieu of mirrors.

 

[MTN Ranger]

One hold up is it won't be legal for sale in many states. One of two things must happen: A) they add side view mirrors or B) they lobby states to allow side view cameras in lieu of mirrors.

The photo above is the concept version. Here is a spy photo of the production version:

It has mirrors.

 

[Noel Park]

From the sounds of it, VW is planning for it to be a loss leader, so even as a two-seater, it might be over $40,000.

And people bitch about the volt only having 4 seats, LOL. They're not going to sell very many of these in the US IMHO. Or at least unless or until gas spikes up to $8 or something. Cool looking though.

 

[detroitsongbird]

it's a dog! Car like that will be EV a bad name. VW should give up some of the efficiency and give it wow power by simply increasing the size of the electric motor to get the 0-60 numbers in the under 4 second range. It's a two seater! Two-seaters should be sports cars or why make them?

 

[dogma]

If my deduction is correct, the XL1 has a 2.6 gallon gas tank capacity?

Seriously?

I'd be willing to sacrifice 61MPG (an even 200MPG I could live with) for twice the tank capacity, and about 600 mile range.

 

[baragona]

Ah, I don't remember that. I was aware of the Volt, but I didn't see any/hear any actual ad copy from GM until after I had already purchased my Volt.

GM definitely did that... Here is the link.... http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/11/autos/volt_mpg/

GM ran the Volt through the standard 2009 EPA test run and the results came back as 230 mpg....

It appears that VW is doing the exact same thing....

 

[jsmay311]

it's a dog! Car like that will be EV a bad name. VW should give up some of the efficiency and give it wow power by simply increasing the size of the electric motor to get the 0-60 numbers in the under 4 second range. It's a two seater! Two-seaters should be sports cars or why make them?

F yeah! And Honda should've given the original Insight a V12, monster truck wheels, and a top speed of 220mph!

[

 

[solar_dave]

GM definitely did that... Here is the link.... http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/11/autos/volt_mpg/

GM ran the Volt through the standard 2009 EPA test run and the results came back as 230 mpg....

It appears that VW is doing the exact same thing....

The really funny part of it is that lots of people are well over that 230 number.

http://www.voltstats.net/Stats/Details/63
http://www.voltstats.net/Stats/Details/323

Over 490 of them listed here:
http://www.voltstats.net/

 

[rudiger]

Looks like a modern rendition of the original 1999 Honda Insight. Still pretty futuristic and cool, though.

But a VW with their quality reputation, and an expensive, tech-heavy one, at that? No way...

 

[16513]

Gratuitous headline-grabbing by VW. $100K for nil-volume, high tech? GET REAL, VW!

 

[PowerTrip]

The really funny part of it is that lots of people are well over that 230 number.

http://www.voltstats.net/Stats/Details/63
http://www.voltstats.net/Stats/Details/323

Over 490 of them listed here:
http://www.voltstats.net/

I'm only at 348.23 miles-per-gallon.

 

[Ladogaboy]

Personally, I think a two-seater is perfectly justifiable as a commuter car, but once you announce it as that, you give up any right to that high of a price tag. The price tag of the Volt is perfectly justifiable because it is not just a commuter car; it easily could be the only car a family needs. The XLI really is only good for singles or retired couples (empty nest), but then, I have to wonder how you justify the price tag.