BREAKTHROUGH FOR
THE 1-LITIRE CAR - VW L1
Wolfsburg / Frankfurt, 14 September 2009 -
Technological breakthrough for the 1-litre fuel
consumption car: International Motor Show (IAA),
Volkswagen is presenting the concept of the future
L1 in a world premiere that points the way toward
the production version. The full hybrid vehicle
weighs just 380 kilograms thanks to its carbon-fibre
reinforced body (CFRB). With a combined fuel
consumption figure of 1.38 litres of diesel per 100
kilometres, this extremely aerodynamic (Cd 0.195!)
Volkswagen suitable for everyday use is intended to
become the most fuel-efficient automobile in the
world. CO2 emissions of the 160 km/h L1 are
similarly low at 36 g/km.
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Retrospective: Seven years ago, Dr. Ferdinand Piëch,
at that time Chairman of the Board of Management and
today Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the
Volkswagen Group, drove a prototype from Wolfsburg
to Hamburg that was unlike any other car before it:
the Volkswagen 1-Litre car – the world’s first car
with fuel consumption of one litre fuel per 100
kilometres. The man and machine wrote automotive
history. In April 2002, however, it was also clear
that the time for a production version of the
1-Litre car lay far in the future. Production of the
body itself – from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP)
– was not realistic due to cost considerations. Yet,
in 2002 Dr. Ferdinand Piëch already prophesised that
the time would soon come for the 1-Litre car and
CFRP as a material for industrial applications. By
2009 the time had come: Volkswagen is making a clear
statement at the IAA in Frankfurt (September 17 to
27) with the second generation of this ingenious
car: The L1 represents a step forward into the
future with completely new technology and a new
design; revolutionary yet close to production
readiness.
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“It is an enormous challenge to control costs in
producing the monocoque out of CFRP,” says Dr.
Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Board of Management
for the Volkswagen Brand with responsibility for
development. Both technically and visually, the CFRP
body is already considered a significant achievement
in car design. Unique on this car are the
proportions of its dimensions. While the length of
the L1 at 3,813 millimetres is still similar to that
of a Volkswagen Fox, and its height of 1,143
millimetres nearly matches that of a Lamborghini
Murciélago, the car’s aerodynamically optimised
width (1,200 millimetres) has no comparisons in the
world of today’s production cars.
L1 philosophy – defining a new type of automobile
In developing both prototype generations of the L1,
Volkswagen simply questioned everything that
typically characterised an automobile. The key
starting point was body construction, and a core
question was raised here: How would a car have to
look and be built to consume as little energy as
possible? The logical answer: extremely aerodynamic
and lightweight. Yet these objectives had to be
achieved under a non-negotiable precondition: a
maximum of safety. The approach taken: a narrow
two-seater with a CFRP body!
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The seat layout fitting this design goal was
dictated by the uncompromising aerodynamic form of a
glider: One seat behind the other. Entry to the
concept car is also similar to that of a glider;
through a roof cover hinged at the side. On this
second generation of the L1, the concept has been
further honed; each component has been redesigned, a
special chassis with aluminium components was
developed, and above all the crucial CFRP technology
from Formula-1 racing and airplane construction was
transferred to automotive manufacturing. This has
been combined with a unique form of hybrid drive to
create a near-production vehicle. 2013 is the target
year for this future dream to become a reality.
*Words & Photos courtesy of Volkswagen AG
