VW's 1L is back ("XL1" latest version of concept, side-by-side seating this time)

[NeilBlanchard]

The interesting thing in the Popular Mechanics article, is that the XL1 can operate in serial hybrid mode and / or in parallel hybrid mode.

[JasonG]

It looks like the cd should be a lot better than 0.18

Basjoos did better than that with rippled sheet metal (no aerocivic disrespect but its like the time and $ money difference between weatherspotter and the zombieinsight )

I expected more like .16
Maybe the front end is to blunt ?
The mirrors aren't bad and VW usually has a fair belly pan.



I wish they kept the 1L's rims though. They were nice and smooth.
I miss the tandem seating, like a motorcycle, but you don't get wet when it rains.

[Frank Lee]

Yah, pooey, .18 is offal.

[fusion210]

Originally Posted by JasonG

It looks like the cd should be a lot better than 0.18

Basjoos did better than that with rippled sheet metal (no aerocivic disrespect but its like the time and $ money difference between weatherspotter and the zombieinsight )

I expected more like .16
Maybe the front end is to blunt ?
The mirrors aren't bad and VW usually has a fair belly pan.



I wish they kept the 1L's rims though. They were nice and smooth.
I miss the tandem seating, like a motorcycle, but you don't get wet when it rains.

You're comparing someone's DIY measurement vs one from a wind tunnel.

[NeilBlanchard]

I think to go lower than this, the rear wheel track must be narrower than the front; or it has to look like the Edison2 VLC. Which by the way, has a Cd of ~0.164, measured in the GM wind tunnel with the new SAE standard. The "old" Cd of the VLC would be ~0.145.

[ai_vin]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

I think to go lower than this, the rear wheel track must be narrower than the front; or it has to look like the Edison2 VLC. Which by the way, has a Cd of ~0.164, measured in the GM wind tunnel with the new SAE standard. The "old" Cd of the VLC would be ~0.145.

To go even lower you should check out something from 1985; the Ford Probe V had a Cd of just .137.

[ai_vin]

However, that said, this side-by-side seating XL1 is just VW's shot at mainstreaming their L1. Who needs mainstreaming when you're only building 100 units?

With a production run that small they should have appealed to the purists and stuck with the tandem seating of the L1 making it narrower throughout. A lower Cd is good, a lower CdA is better. That way if they also want to appeal to the mainstream all they need to do is widen it by 30% and make it a four seater. One car but two versions: a two seat tandem AND a four seat sedan.

[Fr3AkAzOiD]

Need this now!

[redneck]

Originally Posted by ai_vin

To go even lower you should check out something from 1985; the Ford Probe V had a Cd of just .137.

In 2002 it sold at auction for $19,975 in non-running condition.
(not a bad price IMHO)

It's kinda reminds me of a AMC Pacer with all that glass.

Cool car...

>

[NeilBlanchard]

Right, so maybe covered front wheels are more critical than a narrowed rear track? Is this the car that used stretchy fabric for the front wheel skirts?