2015 VW XL1

Offered for sale is this 2015 Volkswagen XL1.

No, you are not in a science fiction movie. This VW of the future is really offered in the present. The Volkswagen XL1 is a purely efficiency-driven plug-in hybrid equipped with electric and diesel technology. Volkswagen introduced the production version of the lightweight two-seater in 2011 and offered it with a limited edition run of just 250 units. Only a few XL1s are painted in Sunset Red, including this one: An original Dutch-delivered copy with barely 20,000 km of asphalt experience and just two previous owners. A collector's item par excellence, this is Ferdinand Piëch’s thrifty wonder. It is yet another example of his desire to push the envelope for the VW Group in every category of car there was, setting production car records for fuel economy with this XL1 at one end of the scale, to a 250 mph top speed for Bugattis at the other. And, in the case of this XL1, it also sent an important signal to everyone who embraces electrics: Diesel is alive!

The Volkswagen XL1 is descended from the previously presented L1: A future-forward concept car from 2009. Two years later, the prototype called XL1 followed. Sales started in mid-2013 and since then, a very limited number of XL1s have been sold. In short, exclusivity guaranteed. Volkswagen developed the XL1 with the idea of ​​making diesel as green as possible. Partly thanks to the government, the diesel engine has been labeled a polluter but that is not always justified. The XL1 was VW's way of saying that the diesel does not deserve its bad image. It is clear that the Germans went to great lengths to prove their point.

The Volkswagen XL1 was designed with one main goal: Making economical and clean driving a sport. This means that aerodynamics was a priority when creating the first sketches; the less air resistance, the better. The result is a stunning eye-catcher. Although, with a maximum number of occupants of two, it cannot certainly be called a quantity in absolute figures. The XL1 is great in other ways. The ultra-lightweight body consists mainly of carbon with reinforced aluminum parts. The streamline is unique and seems to actually come from another planet. The extremely smooth silhouette resembles a solar car. With its closed wheel arches at the rear and doors that open upwards, the VW could come flying straight out of a sci-fi. As if the XL1 wants to say: Welcome to the future.

Technically speaking, the Volkswagen XL1 is such a special phenomenon. Nowadays, the range of plug-in hybrid models equipped with a diesel engine can be counted on a few fingers, but still not at the level of this VW—in this specification, the  number "1" in "XL1" refers to 1 liter of fuel per 100 km. Before you try to match that with all your enthusiasm: The assignment is based on the old NEDC test cycle. In practice, a liter of fuel every 40 km is a lot more realistic. This still means the VW XL1 is not a big drinker. The basis of this beautiful piece of advanced technology is a 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery with 27 HP, linked to a 48 HP 800 cc TDI. The 2-cylinder turbo diesel emits an average of 21 grams of CO2 per km, which is still unprecedented in 2023. Completely emission-free (read: fully electric), the XL1 can travel 50 kilometers. 

This example is a 2015 Volkswagen XL1. It is finished in Sunset Red, and has just under 20,000 km (about 12,427 mi) covered. It is powered by an 800 cc, two-cylinder diesel engine with 48 hp, and a 27 hp electric motor. The combined power output is 51 kW (68 hp) and torque is 100 lb-ft. Extras with the sale include the original car cover, hubcaps, and charger.

Maintenance to date:

• 2015 - 3,590 km - Pon Leusden
• 2016 - 10,900 km - Pon Leusden
• 2017 - 16,012 km - VW Wolfsburg
• 2018 - 16,580 km - Pon Leusden
• 2019 - 17,142 km - Pon Leusden
• 2020 - 19,341 km - Pon Leusden
• 2021 - 19,417 km - Pon Leusden