It seems that VW top brass are drawing inspiration from the ultra-frugal XL1 two-seater – they’re not content with just the one variant, it seems.
Now, after rumors that the car could spawn a much faster sporty version, we have more, though this time the proposed changes to the XL1 formula won’t affect the three-digit mpg figures.
However, it’s practicality and usability will be (positively) affected, because what this rumor published by Autocar says is that VW is looking at making a four-seater version of the XL1. In fact, it won’t necessarily be the same car, but perhaps an evolution of it believed to be called XL2.
Apparently, the carbon tub, front and rear subframes would be carried over to the new model, but what would be in between would be quite different.
Access to the two (probably individual) rear seats would be substantially eased by what are expected to be two not fully sized but rear-hinged doors, kind of like those on the Mazda RX-8 or the new BMW i3.
Another upgrade that is believed to be in the pipeline for the speculated XL2 would be a boost in its power figure, since four passengers will put more strain on the current powertrain (that churns out 47 hp out of its diesel engine and 27 hp out of its supporting electric motor).
As you’d imagine, with two extra seats and probably a bigger overall body, the weight of the vehicle will go up. Even so, the source article suggests that the claimed 310 mpg UK economy figures will remain intact (0.9 l/100 km or 261 mpg US).
By Andrei Nedelea
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