Volkswagen XL1 Drive NYC in Photos

The Volkswagen XL1 is a rear wheel drive, clean-diesel electric hybrid, touted as the most fuel efficient car in production in the world. Autobytel had the chance to give the small, low, eye-catching super car of sorts a closer look, so of course we took the opportunity to drive what will prove to be, on North American shores, a bit of a unicorn on the streets of New York City.

Photo: Megan Green

One of the first noticeable details is that it is oddly lacking side mirrors. In order to decrease drag and improve aerodynamics - thus improving fuel efficiency - driver- and passenger- side mirrors are gone, replaced by "e-mirrors" - digital cameras.

Photo: Megan Green

While the display on the inside of the door is slightly lower than a traditional mirror, the widely-angled lens and split view screen combined with the tapered shape of the back of the car ensures that there are no blind spots. The small white vertical strip on the right of the screen is a recreated reference point for the back-end of the vehicle.

Photo: Megan Green

The tapered back is described by Volkswagen as a "dolphin body form." Attention to improving aerodynamics was paid to every aspect in the vehicle's design; the rear wheel well is covered, and so is the underside of the car. Note the grate below the back bumper; it takes in the air streaming from underneath the vehicle, circulating around and cooling the diesel engine.

Photo: Megan Green

The electric motor and two-cylinder TDI Clean Diesel engine are behind the front seats, between the rear wheels. Because of the tapered shape of the XL1, the trunk space is limited; gold clubs probably won't fit, but ladies, no fear, your gym bag of kickboxing gear will fit just fine.

Photo: Megan Green

With the trunk lid down, the engine vents are visible with an LED light halo. There is no back window.

Photo: Megan Green

The large carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) doors, hinged below the A-pillar, are surprisingly light and easy to open and close both from standing outside and sitting inside. Because of the size of the doors, there is ample room getting in and out of the vehicle. One interesting detail is that only the lower portion of the window opens - and to keep the weight and size of the car as low as possible, electric-powered windows have been chucked in favor of an classic manual winding knob.

Photo: Megan Green

Some interior parts as well as the entire exterior is constructed from CFRP, which is as strong as a traditional steel body but much lighter. The interior is available with either a clear coat over the carbon fiber or painted a matte pearl gray. The passenger seat is set slightly back from the driver's seat, and the 150-pound lithium-ion battery is fitted into the front of the car.

Photo: Megan Green

The Garmin display, replacing the center mirror, shows the status of both the battery and TDI engine. Driving range in electric-only mode is 31 miles.

Photo: Megan Green 

The top section of the polymer side windows are actually glued to the door. The windshield is laminated glass. Tial- and head-lights are LED lights. The diminutive 45.4-inch height of the XL1 is apparent in comparison to the New York city taxi in the background. For taller people, the low roof combined with the angle of the windshield might impede vision slightly.

Photo: Megan Green

Hearing the ceramic front brakes on the magnesium wheels takes a little getting used to; a lot of the sound-dampening materials used in many modern cars are, again, not used in the XL1 to maintain the low weight. At 1.753 pounds, it's just shy of being half the weight of the sporty BMW i8 hybrid (also with a CFRP body), and around 2/3 of the weight of a Prius.

Photo: Megan Green

Sadly for North America, we can't have it; only 250 of the 261-mpg Volkswagen XL1 will be made, and are destined for the European market. Based on the enthusiastic reaction of the middle school kids swarming the XL1 taking photos as we sat in New York city traffic, though, we can only hope that a plug-in hybrd so cool will someday come back across the Atlantic to zip around on American highways. More first drive impressions about the Volkswagen XL1 at the LA Auto Show can be found here on Autobytel.

Photo: Megan Green