Ducati gets two more wheels- The VW XL Sport: Upcoming Cars in India

While the biggest automobile extravaganza of Europe i.e. Paris motor is spreading the glitters of evolution of the modern auto world, we would today like to introduce a new gem in the VW bag and heal yeah it is scintillating and precious too, it is the Volkswagen XL sport, but before showing you the glimpses of the new machine presented by the VW group,I would like to highlight a fact here which was first brought into my attention by ‘The Australian’, as it mentions “IT’S an irony of the Paris motor show that getting there via Metro can be quicker than by car. A minibus journey that should take 40 minutes drags on for two hours.” To me it does sound ironical but the kind of vehicles the auto makers today are creating are very wisely dealing with the “TIME”&the “SPACE”, we might be running out of “SPACE” in our asphalt jungles due to traffic, but we do have the advantage of “TIME” with the high performance - low emission modern day engines which can provide enormous power at an engine volume smaller than a cold drink bottle. While we can boast the advantage over “TIME”, our conflict with the “SPACE” (due to traffic) has taught us to create smart automotive technologies like those with diminutive emissions and high fuel efficiencies or the others with anti-crash safe driving technology which we made you aware of, at our website earlier.

The VW XL sport is based on 3 years old VW XL1, a plug in hybrid which is known for its light weightiness (only 816 Kgs approx.), it’s aerodynamics and over all its energy saving capability (rated over 100 Kmpl). While the car had dynamic exteriors that surely made it look faster but it was only rated at a top speed of 160 Kmph, although that’s good enough for a one litre diesel engine. The new XL sport might have gained some weight (890 Kgs) but it surely can disappear within a blink of an eye with a top speed of over 270 Kmph, also the time it takes going from 0-100 Kmph is just 5.7 seconds which is almost half of that achieved by XL1, the fuel economy won’t be that good as in XL1 but it is exciting.So what is it that helps the XL Sport achieve such magical numbers? You might be surprised to know that it is the new Ducati Superleggera 1.2 litre V-twin engine, assisted by the electric motors and coupled with the 7- speed automatic VW DSG transmission which powers the new XL sport and surely creates the difference. Ducati is the Italian 2-wheeler brand (parented by the VW group) which claims that the Superleggera’s engine is world’s most powerful 2-cylinder engine. The engine is assisted by the Superquadro motor; these together take the numbers to 197 Hp and approx. 250 Nm of torque thanks to the DSG step down transmission which reduces the mind wobbling 11000 RPM to improve the torque. Further this ultimate level of speeding at such engine volume is caused by the streamlined aerodynamics of the XL sport which helps in reducing the air drag. Contributing to the magical numbers is the light weightiness of the Carbon Fibre Plastic Reinforced (CFPR) monocoque frame with steel sub-frame members providing enormous rigidity along with high power to weight ratios.

A pull-rod front suspension connected to the 205/40 tyres at the front and push-rod actuating mechanism suspension connected to the 265/35 tyres at the rear along with the 18 in forged magnesium alloy wheels provide light weightiness, traction and unique handling experience. The exteriors to me look similar to the Audi R8 when viewed from sides with the similar smooth characteristic coupe roofline but when viewed from the front and the rear the car looks completely different with a missing radiator grille, slimmer horizontal lines, the daytime running LEDs and the two air extractors at the front and a tapered rear without any windscreen and LED taillights that run throughout the width of the rear body, further the 5 air ducts at the lower body and the 2 at sides provided for the Ducati engine which sits in the rear body are strikingly sporty also the rear spoiler operates on a similar mechanism as does the Lamborghini Aventador. The overall dimensions of the XL Sport make it wider and longer than the XL1.

While the XL1 was priced at $167K, we can expect this to be priced near the same number, although it’s just a concept but I feel that auto enthusiasts would like VW to produce it limitedly as the numbers do sound magical for a 1.2 litre engine. However for a price tag of over $167K and no fancy hybrid powertrain there might be some crazy low emission energy saving vehicles for the energy saver in you or some hellacious machines for unleashing the rubber burning adventurous you, although for me its thumbs up for the light weightiness.