Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen XL1 priced from £99,000 in the UK

The super efficient VW XL1 is on sale in the UK for £98,515, with a total of 200 set to be built

Volkswagen has confirmed the XL1 will cost £98,515 when it arrives in the UK this autumn.

Only around 200 production models will be made at VW’s Osnabruck factory in Germany, with around 30 examples of the highly efficient plug-in hybrid making their way to the UK.

While it’s still possible to register an interest in purchasing the XL1, sources within the company have confirmed a significant amount of interest already.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Aside from the exclusivity offered by such a limited run, the Volkswagen’s appeal is largely down to an official combined economy figure of 313mpg and emissions of just 21g/km of CO2 – making it the world’s most efficient liquid-fuelled production car.

This is partly thanks to the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which combines a compact 47bhp 800cc two-cylinder TDI diesel engine and 27bhp electric motor. Sending a total of 74bhp to the rear-wheels through a modified seven-speed DSG transmission, the XL1 can hit 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds before maxing out at an electronically limited 99mph. Alternatively, in electric-only mode the two-seater can cover up to 31 miles, producing zero local emissions.

Volkswagen has also worked hard to improve efficiency by shedding as much weight as possible – just under a quarter of the car is made from steel or iron, with carbon fibre-reinforced plastic being used to keep the kerbweight down to 795kg.

The XL1 has been aerodynamically optimised, too, using a wind tunnel-honed ‘tear drop’ shape that encases the rear wheels and sees traditional wing mirrors replaced by small cameras. Such innovations have resulted in a drag coefficient of 0.189 – a Nissan GT-R's is 0.27 – which apparently means 62mph can be maintained on a level road with only 8.3bhp.

According to project manager Lianne McKnight, this technology will eventually filter down to many mainstream VWs, describing the XL1 as “an example of the type of car we may be driving in 15 years time”. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Volkswagen ID.2X teased with chunky off-road looks
Volkswagen ID.2X teaser sketch - front 3/4

Volkswagen ID.2X teased with chunky off-road looks

The all-electric alternative to the T-Cross will be shown off in concept form soon
News
1 Sep 2025
What cars qualify for the electric car grant? Full list with our best (and worst) picks
Electric car charging mega test - Renault 5 front angled

What cars qualify for the electric car grant? Full list with our best (and worst) picks

More than 30 electric cars are now eligible for a Government-funded discount. Which should you go for from the ever growing list?
News
28 Aug 2025
New Volkswagen, Peugeot and Cupra models gain EV Grant price cuts
Peugeot E-208 - front tracking

New Volkswagen, Peugeot and Cupra models gain EV Grant price cuts

More cars qualify for the Government’s discounts, but there’s still not a single car eligible for the maximum £3,750 discount
News
15 Aug 2025
Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription
Volkswagen ID.3 - front cornering

Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription

Owners can now subscribe to boost the power of their car… for a fee
News
14 Aug 2025

Most Popular

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years
MG Cyber X design render - front

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years

Boxy small SUV is gearing up for production, and our exclusive images show how the model might look
News
30 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Ford Puma Gen-E granted ultra-low £132 monthly lease
Ford Puma Gen-E - front action

Car Deal of the Day: Ford Puma Gen-E granted ultra-low £132 monthly lease

The EV grant has made the Ford Puma Gen-E a lot cheaper, and lease customers can cash-in with today’s Deal of the Day
News
29 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Racy and retro Renault 5 for only £188 a month
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Racy and retro Renault 5 for only £188 a month

The Renault 5 is taking the market by storm – and at this price it’s easy to see why. It’s our Deal of the Day for August 30
News
30 Aug 2025