Ducati V2 powers VW's XL Sport

Volkswagen's engineers have melded a Ducati V2 1.199-litre 90-degree twin of 200PS (147kW) with a carbon fibre body to produce the show-stopping XL Sport.

The Ducati Superleggera twin-cylinder engine can rotate up to 11,000rev/min and has the legendary desmodromic valves as well as titanium connecting rods. The engine drives through as seven-speed double-clutch (DSG) gear box. The engine also makes extensive use of magnesium.

As for the body shell of the XL Sport, VW engineers have adopted resin transfer moulding (RTM), a technology first developed in the UK in the1960s by Lotus, for the carbon fibre composite material (CFRP).

The aerodynamic profile of the XL Sport is sufficient to require no more than a drag coefficient of 0.258.

VW claims RTM ‘first’ for a volks wagen

The XL1 1-litre fuel economy car from Volkswagen uses resin transfer moulding (RTM) first devised successfully by Lotus in the UK over 40 years ago.

The prototype, with its plug-in hybrid system, uses sports car design principles of low weight (795kg), sound aerodynamics (Cd 0.189) and low centre of gravity (1.153mm high) to achieve a fuel consumption of 0.9litres/100km.

These features, combined with a two-cylinder TDI diesel of 48PS (35kW), a E-motor of 27PS (20kW), a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG) and lithium-ion battery, make it possible for the XL1 to emit 21g/km of CO2. It has a top speed of 160km/h and an all-electric drive mode range of 50km.

The XL1 is manufactured by Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH in the former Karmann facilities where some 1,800 employees produce Golf Cabriolets and Porsche Boxsters.