2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore

2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore

Lamborghini’s new special edition Gallardo LP 560-4 Bicolore revealed at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show. Lamborghini presents the 2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore – A look at extreme supersports car for the Special Edition. The 2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore, a Special Edition supersports car which will be produced for the European and Asian-Pacific markets, while for the American market it will be only available in the version LP 550-2. Just a month before the world debut of its V12 replacement for the Murciélago at 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Automobili Lamborghini has presented at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show a highly exclusive and appealing vehicle making its world premiere: the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore, a Special Edition supersports car which will be produced for the European and Asian-Pacific markets.

2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore

The most successful super sports car in Lamborghini's history captures the imagination with the brutal power of its 560 hp V10 engine, the absolute grip of its permanent all-wheel drive and the razor-sharp precision of its chassis. Every mile in the Lamborghini Gallardo is an intense experience of explosive dynamics and absolute control. Its breathtaking performance is indicated by the 3.6 seconds it takes to reach 60 mph and its top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h).

2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore

"With the 2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore, Lamborghini demonstrates once again the extreme, uncompromising and unmistakably Italian nature of our brand. The super sports cars from Lamborghini combine volcanic energy with design that is as unique as it is stylish," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

With its new Bicolore model, Lamborghini is now setting a further design highlight in the ten-cylinder model series. The colored exterior finish matched with the black on the upper area of the body gives the Gallardo a new, more aggressive personality that looks even wider, even more extreme and innately adhered to the road.

2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore

The complete range of standard equipment includes the fast e-gear automated transmission controlled by paddles on the steering column. A lifting system enables the front axle to be raised for safer travel onto ramps and over humps in the road, and the engine hood in tempered glass provides a stunning view of the heart of the vehicle: a 5.2 liter, 90° V-10 engine with stratified direct injection.

The 2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore completes Lamborghini's ten-cylinder model range, which is enjoying enormous resonance worldwide with its broad spectrum of individual characters. While the Gallardo LP 560-4 is already a highly trained, extreme athlete, the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera takes the notion of thoroughbred high performance even further. Thanks to its extensive experience in carbon-fiber lightweight engineering, Lamborghini succeeded in reducing its weight by a further 70 kilograms. At 2.35 kilograms per hp, the power-to-weight ratio of the Superleggera is the best in its class, with breathtaking performance guaranteed. From a satellite navigation system to a rear-view camera, from a brake system with carbon-ceramic discs to heated power seats, a long list of optional equipment and accessories allows the vehicle to be adapted to the personal requirements of any client.

2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore

The contrast between black and repeated in a way, understated elegance in the interior of the 2011 Lamborghini Super Sports Cars Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore. Instrument panel, seats, door panels and other elements in the passenger compartment of the best leather “Persus Nero”, with subtle contrast stitching provided by the exact color to match the exterior paint: yellow, orange, blue and gray (also used in Bianco Monocerus version). Panel e-gear transmission on the center console in Nero Noctis, such as the top area of the vehicle. Clearly, the interior is finished in Lamborghini’s tradition of using only very high quality material, made with undeniable professionalism and fine Italian craftsmanship.

2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model

2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model

First seen in the U.S. at the South Florida International Auto Show, the 2011 Volvo C70 receives a bold new look and a number of interior enhancements. With its new front appearance, the 2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model reveals traces of the S60 Concept Car that was unveiled in early 2009. The 2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model now relates more closely to the design language of the larger cars in the Volvo model range.

2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 is a convertible model, manufactured since 1997. This model is in its second generation. First generation model was offered with soft top convertibles and second generation models are installed with retractable hardtop. Second generation model was launched in 2006 and this model is based on Volvo P1 platform. New generation Volvo C70 is installed with advanced accessories like LED tail lamp, sleeker headlamps and many other accessories. 2011 Volvo C70 is a luxurious convertible model which offers smooth and comfortable drive experience. This new model is likely to face some tough competition from other convertible models like Infinity G37, Volkswagen Eos, Lexus IS 250 C and BMW 3 series.

2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model

Volvo C70 2011 will be sold at a price of 39,950 USD – 50 USD cheaper than the price of old, but with the additional standard equipment for 4000 USD, which was once optional. Like 5 speed automatic transmission, SIRIUS satellite radio, a layer of luxurious leather upholstery, LED taillights high-tech, complete airbags only from the front but also on the side of the vehicle.

2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model’s cabin is very slim and houses little gaps between console and dash. Stereo, navigation and Bluetooth are offered with straight forward access with button interface. This model’s interior can also be decorated with wood trim on center stack and standard aluminum material. Optional stereo system presents good sound quality to its occupants. 2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model’s seats are designed to offer comfortable seating position to its occupants. Rear cabin is very expansive and relatively comfortable for an average individual. Cargo compartment of this vehicle is also bit spacious and can easily accommodate small luggage.

The 2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model is a four-passenger luxury convertible with a retractable hardtop, and it's available in only one trim level, the T5. It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, a power-retractable hardtop, front and rear foglights and heated outside mirrors. Standard interior features include leather upholstery, eight-way power front seats (with driver memory), automatic dual-zone climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker CD/MP3 audio system with auxiliary audio/USB jacks and satellite and HD radio.

2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model

The front-wheel-drive 2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine rated at 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic with manual-shift control is mandatory. This powertrain is EPA-rated at 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.

2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model

The C70 comes standard with antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags for front passengers, roll bars that deploy in the case of a roll-over accident and whiplash-reducing front head restraints. In crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the C70 its highest rating of "Good" for frontal-offset and side impact protection.

But the 2011 Volvo Sport Sedan C70 Luxurious Convertible Model is about more than safety and an innovative roof. In the U.S., the 2011 C70 is offered with a powerful 227 horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine that's mated to a standard five-speed automatic transmission with driver selectable Geartronic shifting. Power is seamlessly distributed to the front wheels with Volvo's standard Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) system.

2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept

2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept

The ESFLOW concept cars will be unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (3-13 March) where it will share the Nissan stand with a number of other innovative and exciting newcomers - but with one major difference: these are production ready.

The 2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept isn’t scheduled to be unveiled until the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in just a couple of weeks. Nissan plans to reveal its new electric concept, called Esflow, at the Chicago Auto Show this year. The car will make its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show from March.

2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept

Nissan has a reputation for creating some of the most exhilarating sports cars on the market. Nissan has also developed the world's first practical Zero Emission family car, the Nissan LEAF. Now Nissan has put that expertise together. It has captured the excitement of a sports car and the environmental benefits of an electric vehicle and blended them into one dramatic two-seater concept: ESFLOW.

It may be a concept, but the Nissan ESFLOW electric sports cars proves it's possible to remain environmentally sympathetic without having to give up the joy of driving. It looks like a sports car, handles like a sports car and performs like one too. But Nissan ESFLOW Concept cars is different to every other sports car yet built: it's electric. Using technology pioneered in the award-winning Nissan LEAF, the EV concept shows that driving can still be as much fun tomorrow as it is today.

2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept

Ecological minimalism need not come at the expense of luxury. The cabin of the 2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept is clean and open and weight saving has been a priority throughout its design, but it is still a comfortable and pleasant place to sit. By far the heaviest components in modern cars' interiors are the steel framed, thickly upholstered and increasingly motorized seats. In 2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept the seats are sculpted into the rear bulkhead of the car, negating the need for a heavy frame. This of course means that they are immobile, but this is of no consequence as the fly-by-wire steering and pedals adjust electrically to the best spot to suit each individual driver's size and preferred driving position.

Nissan ESFLOW Concept is rear-wheel drive and it runs on two motors. The car's graceful proportions allow the twin electric motors to be placed above the axis of the rear wheels, in a mid-ship position,. These motors independently control the left and right wheels, and so the torque is optimized to ensure outstanding vehicle stability and control as well as efficient power regeneration. The motors produce enough torque in an instant for it to reach a 100kph in under 5 seconds.

2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept

Power for the motors comes from the same laminated lithium-ion battery packs used in the Nissan LEAF, but in ESFLOW the packs are located along the axis of the front and rear wheels. This centralizes the mass of the car, and thus its rotation point, close to the driver's hips. These cleverly positioned batteries enable the car to travel over 240km on one charge.

2011 Nissan Electric Sports Cars ESFLOW Concept

The colors of this Esflow are inspired from glaciers, with highly reflective blue-tinted solidified liquid shapes. Even if this concept will not hit the production line too soon, it could be a great source of inspiration for Nissan’s future sports cars.

2011 Rolls-Royce Sports Apparition Concept Cars by Jeremy Westerlund

2011 Rolls-Royce Sports Apparition Concept Cars by Jeremy Westerlund

Here is a personal limousine that, Rolls-Royce Apparition concept was designed by Jeremy Westerlund, who designed it as an independent project while studying at the Art Center. 2011 Jeremy Westerlund  Rolls Royce Apparition has Clever design features abound, like the spare wheel secreted into the bodywork at the front like 1930s Rollers, an open cockpit for the driver and the twin rear windows that mirror the shape of the headlights. It’s like something out of a science fiction film, and a heck of a lot more interesting than some of the so-called concept cars Rolls-Royce has show in the past five years.

2011 Rolls-Royce Sports Apparition Concept Cars by Jeremy Westerlund

The idea blends classic design elements with futuristic ones, with mahogany wheel inserts and a shape that places the chauffeur out in the open like in vintage motor carriages, with the occupants coddled inside.

2011 Rolls-Royce Sports Apparition Concept Cars by Jeremy Westerlund is a personal limousine that, if it were built, would be 23 feet long. The 2011 Rolls-Royce Sports Apparition Concept Cars by Jeremy Westerlund that features yacht-like styling and mahogany inserts on the wheels. This created by a student designer like Jeremy Westerlund comes along with a design as interesting and unique as the Rolls Royce Apparition.

2011 Rolls-Royce Sports Apparition Concept Cars by Jeremy Westerlund

Design of the 2011 Rolls-Royce Sports Apparition Concept Cars by Jeremy Westerlund is based around the old motor carriages that had a chauffeur sitting up front, exposed to the elements, with the passengers coddled inside. Like most contemporary Rolls models, the front is utterly dominated by the prominent grille and hood ornament.

2011 Rolls-Royce Sports Apparition Concept Cars by Jeremy Westerlund, it features unique touches like real mahogany inserts in the wheels, and the imposing overall shape is long and low: the designer took his cues from sailing yachts, and even though the model is built to 1:4 scale, it’s still nearly six feet long. If such an extreme example of fantasy ever became reality, it would measure 279 inches overall – that’s over 23 feet, or about four feet longer than the Phantom.

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

The latest Volkswagen will unveil the 3rd and latest iteration by its roadster diesel-electric hybrid concept serial, the fresh XL1 Super effective Vehicle (SEV) at these week’s Qatar Motor demo, which runs by January 26 to 29. The latest 2011 Volkswagen XL1 Hybrid Concept are motivated by a diminished 800 cc TDI two-cylinder basic rail diesel engine breaking 48 HP.

Vision becomes reality – Volkswagen’s “Formula XL1”:  Volkswagen XL1 prototype consumes just 0.9 l/100 km! Wolfsburg / Doha, 25 January 2011 - Future mobility is one of the most stimulating topics of our time. The key question here: Just how much could the energy consumption of cars be reduced if all the stops were pulled out for efficiency? There is now an answer to this question, and Volkswagen is delivering it in the form of the new XL1. Combined fuel consumption: 0.9 l/100 km. No other hybrid car powered by an electric motor / internal combustion engine combination is more fuel efficient.

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

Volkswagen will build small run of XL1 plug-in hybrid in two years. “We want to go into series production with this car starting in 2013,” Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piech told Automotive News Europe on Tuesday at an event in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the 2011 Qatar auto show where Volkswagen unveiled an XL1 prototype. Pioneering construction techniques, an advanced plug-in hybrid drivetrain and innovative packaging all play a part in allowing the new Volkswagen XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle (SEV) to return 260 mpg on the combined cycle to set a new benchmark for vehicle efficiency.

The most efficient car in the world. The new 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept shows the way forward for extreme economy vehicles and clean technologies. It also demonstrates that such cars can also be fun.  The feeling when driving the XL1 is truly dynamic - not based on pure power, rather on its pure efficiency. Two examples: 1) To travel at a constant speed of 100 km/h, the prototype only needs 6.2 kW/8.4 PS – a fraction of the performance of today’s cars (Golf 1.6 TDI with 77 kW and 7-speed DSG: 13.2 kW/17.9 PS). 2) In electric mode, the XL1 needs less than 0.1 kWh (82 Wh/km) to complete a one kilometre driving course. These are record values.

Powering the 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept is a compact 800 cc TDI two-cylinder common rail diesel engine developing 47 hp. It's linked to an electric motor producing 27 hp, resulting in a total of 74 hp - a modest output yet more than enough when the low kerb weight of 1753 lbs (795 kg) of the vehicle is taken into account. Two-cylinder TDI uses mass production technology: The 0.8 litre TDI (35 kW/48 PS) was derived from the 1.6 litre TDI, which drives such cars as the Golf and Passat. The 0.8 TDI exhibits the same data as the 1.6-litre TDI common rail engine in terms of cylinder spacing (88 mm), cylinder bore (79.5 mm) and stroke (80.5 mm).

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

In addition, the Volkswagen XL1 Concept's two-cylinder and the mass produced four cylinder share key internal engine features for reducing emissions. They include special piston recesses for multiple injection and individual orientation of the individual injection jets. The excellent, smooth running properties of the common rail engines were transferred to the two cylinder engine. within addition, a balancer shaft that is driven by the crankshaft turning at the same speed optimises smooth engine running.

When the full power of the hybrid system is engaged, the Volkswagen prototype accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 11.9 seconds; its top speed is 160 km/h (electronically limited). Yet these numbers alone do not tell the whole story: Since the XL1 weighs just 795 kg, the drive system has an easy job of propelling the car. When full power is needed, the electric motor, which can deliver 100 Newton metres of torque from a standstill, works as a booster to support the TDI engine (120 Newton metres torque). Together, the TDI and E-motor deliver a maximum torque of 140 Newton metres in boosting mode.

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) the ideal material for the body of the new 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept because of its light weight. The 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Conceptweighs only 795 kg. Of this figure, 227 kg represents the entire drive unit, 153 kg the running gear, 80 kg the equipment (including the two bucket seats) and 105 kg the electrical system.

That leaves 230 kg, which is precisely the weight of the body - produced largely of CFRP - including wing doors, front windscreen in thin-glass technology as in motorsport and the highly safe monocoque. A total of 21.3 percent of the new Volkswagen XL1, or 169 kg, consists of CFRP. In addition, Volkswagen uses lightweight metals for 22.5 percent of all parts (179 kg). Only 23.2 percent (184 kg) of the new XL1 is constructed from steel and iron materials. The rest of its weight is distributed among various other polymers (e.g. polycarbonate side windows), metals, natural fibres, process materials and electronics.

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

Design for a new era: The VW XL1 is 3,888 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and just 1,156 mm tall. These are extreme dimensions. The Polo has a similar length (3,970 mm) and width (1,682 m), but it is significantly taller (1,462 mm). The height of the new 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept is about the same as that of a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (1,184 mm). So, it is easy to visualise just how spectacular such a Volkswagen would appear on the road – as long and wide as a Polo, but with a low profile like a Lamborghini.

The styling of the 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept is borne out of functional requirements - easy access to the interior is granted via a pair of elegant scissor doors that hinge on the A-pillar while the profile of the car has been honed in the wind tunnel, the result being a remarkable coefficient of drag figure of 0.186. The XL1's overall length and width are similar to those of a Volkswagen Polo yet its height is more akin to that of a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

Although the 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid is still very much a concept, its unveiling marks the next step towards the birth of a new class of Super Efficient Vehicles, while the advent of a process such as RTM is a significant milestone.

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

The latest Volkswagen will unveil the 3rd and latest iteration by its roadster diesel-electric hybrid concept serial, the fresh XL1 Super effective Vehicle (SEV) at these week’s Qatar Motor demo, which runs by January 26 to 29. The latest 2011 Volkswagen XL1 Hybrid Concept are motivated by a diminished 800 cc TDI two-cylinder basic rail diesel engine breaking 48 HP.

Vision becomes reality – Volkswagen’s “Formula XL1”:  Volkswagen XL1 prototype consumes just 0.9 l/100 km! Wolfsburg / Doha, 25 January 2011 - Future mobility is one of the most stimulating topics of our time. The key question here: Just how much could the energy consumption of cars be reduced if all the stops were pulled out for efficiency? There is now an answer to this question, and Volkswagen is delivering it in the form of the new XL1. Combined fuel consumption: 0.9 l/100 km. No other hybrid car powered by an electric motor / internal combustion engine combination is more fuel efficient.

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

Volkswagen will build small run of XL1 plug-in hybrid in two years. “We want to go into series production with this car starting in 2013,” Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piech told Automotive News Europe on Tuesday at an event in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the 2011 Qatar auto show where Volkswagen unveiled an XL1 prototype. Pioneering construction techniques, an advanced plug-in hybrid drivetrain and innovative packaging all play a part in allowing the new Volkswagen XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle (SEV) to return 260 mpg on the combined cycle to set a new benchmark for vehicle efficiency.

The most efficient car in the world. The new 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept shows the way forward for extreme economy vehicles and clean technologies. It also demonstrates that such cars can also be fun.  The feeling when driving the XL1 is truly dynamic - not based on pure power, rather on its pure efficiency. Two examples: 1) To travel at a constant speed of 100 km/h, the prototype only needs 6.2 kW/8.4 PS – a fraction of the performance of today’s cars (Golf 1.6 TDI with 77 kW and 7-speed DSG: 13.2 kW/17.9 PS). 2) In electric mode, the XL1 needs less than 0.1 kWh (82 Wh/km) to complete a one kilometre driving course. These are record values.

Powering the 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept is a compact 800 cc TDI two-cylinder common rail diesel engine developing 47 hp. It's linked to an electric motor producing 27 hp, resulting in a total of 74 hp - a modest output yet more than enough when the low kerb weight of 1753 lbs (795 kg) of the vehicle is taken into account. Two-cylinder TDI uses mass production technology: The 0.8 litre TDI (35 kW/48 PS) was derived from the 1.6 litre TDI, which drives such cars as the Golf and Passat. The 0.8 TDI exhibits the same data as the 1.6-litre TDI common rail engine in terms of cylinder spacing (88 mm), cylinder bore (79.5 mm) and stroke (80.5 mm).

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

In addition, the Volkswagen XL1 Concept's two-cylinder and the mass produced four cylinder share key internal engine features for reducing emissions. They include special piston recesses for multiple injection and individual orientation of the individual injection jets. The excellent, smooth running properties of the common rail engines were transferred to the two cylinder engine. within addition, a balancer shaft that is driven by the crankshaft turning at the same speed optimises smooth engine running.

When the full power of the hybrid system is engaged, the Volkswagen prototype accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 11.9 seconds; its top speed is 160 km/h (electronically limited). Yet these numbers alone do not tell the whole story: Since the XL1 weighs just 795 kg, the drive system has an easy job of propelling the car. When full power is needed, the electric motor, which can deliver 100 Newton metres of torque from a standstill, works as a booster to support the TDI engine (120 Newton metres torque). Together, the TDI and E-motor deliver a maximum torque of 140 Newton metres in boosting mode.

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) the ideal material for the body of the new 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept because of its light weight. The 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Conceptweighs only 795 kg. Of this figure, 227 kg represents the entire drive unit, 153 kg the running gear, 80 kg the equipment (including the two bucket seats) and 105 kg the electrical system.

That leaves 230 kg, which is precisely the weight of the body - produced largely of CFRP - including wing doors, front windscreen in thin-glass technology as in motorsport and the highly safe monocoque. A total of 21.3 percent of the new Volkswagen XL1, or 169 kg, consists of CFRP. In addition, Volkswagen uses lightweight metals for 22.5 percent of all parts (179 kg). Only 23.2 percent (184 kg) of the new XL1 is constructed from steel and iron materials. The rest of its weight is distributed among various other polymers (e.g. polycarbonate side windows), metals, natural fibres, process materials and electronics.

2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept

Design for a new era: The VW XL1 is 3,888 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and just 1,156 mm tall. These are extreme dimensions. The Polo has a similar length (3,970 mm) and width (1,682 m), but it is significantly taller (1,462 mm). The height of the new 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept is about the same as that of a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (1,184 mm). So, it is easy to visualise just how spectacular such a Volkswagen would appear on the road – as long and wide as a Polo, but with a low profile like a Lamborghini.

The styling of the 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept is borne out of functional requirements - easy access to the interior is granted via a pair of elegant scissor doors that hinge on the A-pillar while the profile of the car has been honed in the wind tunnel, the result being a remarkable coefficient of drag figure of 0.186. The XL1's overall length and width are similar to those of a Volkswagen Polo yet its height is more akin to that of a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

Although the 2011 Volkswagen Sports Cars XL1 (SEV) Roadster Diesel-Electric Hybrid is still very much a concept, its unveiling marks the next step towards the birth of a new class of Super Efficient Vehicles, while the advent of a process such as RTM is a significant milestone.