There were many surprises at the Paris Auto Show, one of which was the amazing Volkswagen XL Sport. It is based on the XL 1, that symbolizes the partnership between Ducati and Volkswagen. The XL Sport is an updated, more powerful version of the XL1.
The car has a rear mounted Ducati V-twin Superleggera 1199 engine, slightly modified than the one used on the XL1. It is the most powerful two-cylinder engine, that can rev up to 11000 Rpm. Ducati uses a hand fabrication and high-precision manufacturing industrial process. and the result is staggering. The engine is now a tough engne, it has strong light titanium connecting roads, double-overhead camshafts. It has a bore/stroke ratio of 112 mm by 60.8 mm. The two cylinders are disposed in 90° configuration, they feature desmodromic valve control, thus ensuring the best valve clearance. Magnesium was used in different parts of the engine such as the clutch, cylinder head, oil pan covers, the throttle valve discs and the fuel injectors, which are two per cylinder. As a result, the total power is 200 bhp and 134 Nm. The engine has the best power to weight ration of any motorcycle ever made. The car can reach 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds (which is a bit tomorrow in supercars time) and tops 168 mph. The car has a doube-clutch DSG 7-speed gearbox fitted to it
The XL Sport does look like the XL1 model, but it has better aerodynamics. the frontal area is 1.7 sq m and the drag coefficient Cd is one of the lowest available 0.258, there fore the Cda is 0.44 sq m. The car has a higher downforce, wider tires air intakes for air cooling, special vanes used to channel the air in the front, the underbody was reworked to get a better aerodynamic result, air ducts on the hood, an extendable rear spoiler (that uses the same electric motor as the Lamborghini Aventador) and a rear diffuser. The are air cooling vents in the rear to cool the power unit of the car. Other then the aerodynamics, the XL sport is wider, larger, but has the same height as the old XL1. It is 168 in long, 72.7 in large, has a 87.6 in long wheelbase, and 45.4 in high. It has a newer, revised chassis as well.
In the inside, the two cars look similar as well. The Sport has a red finishing in the seats. Aluminium, and leather are used in the interior. It houses a digital instrument cluster (lap timer, oil pressure display..). The steering wheel is decorated by red stitching and has aluminium shift-paddles mounted to it. The air vents have aluminium accents, same as the DSG shift gate.
500 units will be produced, which is the double of the XL1’s. In terms of sport car values, the XL Sport stands well, Volkswagen did a great job, used newer materials, to gain weight, and efficiency, they claim that the car will do a 1L/km which is really needed in today’s conditions.
Source : Volkswagen Press release
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