VW XL Sport Concept


There has never been a sports car like the XL Sport concept being showcased by Volkswagen in a world premiere at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. A car that uncompromisingly furthers the development of the lightweight sports car in its very essence. With the XL Sport, the group brands Volkswagen and Ducati impressively demonstrate how high-tech developments can lead to synergies between brands and be used by both parties as modules for new concepts.

In the world of the motor car, the XL Sport achieves something similar. In this case it is the ratio between weight (890 kg), power (200 PS) and aerodynamics (cd x A = 0.44 m2) that currently makes this concept car the fastest 200 PS car in the world. No other sports car has ever reached a top speed of 270 km/h with 200 PS. 


The Ducati 1199 Superleggera's V2 engine was slightly modified for use in the XL Sport but is basically the same as the motorcycle engine. Thanks to its tough, lightweight titanium connecting rods, the 1,199 cc DOHC engine can attain speeds up to 11,000 rpm. The XL Sport has a newly developed intermediate gearbox to reduce engine speeds by a factor of 1.86. Torque from the V2 engine (134 Nm) is transmitted to the rear axle via a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG).


The way this lightweight sports car is propelled by its engine is worthy of some note. The car's acceleration from 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds almost becomes a secondary issue when considering the impressive combination of the vehicle's high-revving V2 engine, low weight, perfect aerodynamics and significantly redesigned chassis that together take the XL Sport straight into the realm of the racing circuit. 

The wing doors of the XL Sport are reminiscent of those of a high-end sports car. The doors also extend far into the roof. When they are opened, they create an exceptionally large amount of entry and exit space. The door windows are made of polycarbonate. The upper part of the windows is firmly attached to the exterior door skin due to the specifications of lightweight design. Dimensions in detail: The XL Sport showcased in Paris is 4,291 mm long, 1,847 mm wide, 1,152 mm high. The wheelbase has also been increased to 2,424 mm.  

The broad front section of the XL Sport exudes an unmistakable charisma with its dual LED headlights and the signature of the LED daytime running lights. The front section of the XL Sport does not have a conventional radiator grille, yet it retains the current Volkswagen design DNA, with horizontal lines dominating this area. 


The XL Sport is just as wide at the back as at the front. From above, the shape is that of a classic racing car, with the doors retracted like a waist. In front of the rear wheel arches, 'Motore Ducati' lettering refers to the 1199 Superleggera engine in the rear.

The new XL Sport also has four specific features that catch the eye. First, the extremely wide, flat rear with its distinctive shoulders (powerful, wide surfaces above the wheels) and the extendible rear spoiler which occupies almost the full width of the vehicle's rear end. Second, there is the coupé-shaped roofline without rear windscreen. Merging into the roofline is the rear hatch that conceals the Ducati engine, the 7-speed DSG and 107 litres of luggage space. Another new feature of the XL Sport: a louvre comprised of five slats that are seated flush in the rear hatch, which, depending on the temperature, open automatically to cool the drive unit. Third, the iconic red LED ribbon that follows the shape of the rear section. At the sides the ribbon is framed by another, vertical, LED element which serves to emphasise the width of the XL Sport. Fourth, there is a black diffuser that merges almost seamlessly into the completely enclosed underbody and is finished at each side with a chrome exhaust tailpipe.



The interior of the XL Sport has been modified and individualised with a number of special details conforming with the complete realignment of the vehicle's dynamic. For example, the XL Sport boasts a characteristic digital instrument cluster specially designed for motor sports, with an individual lap time and oil pressure display. A flat carbon part that extends the top of the instrument cluster covering to completely eliminate reflections. The XL Sport's steering wheel has decorative red stitching and has been equipped with aluminium shift paddles to facilitate ultra quick gear shifts. There are further classy details to add a sporty touch, with anodised aluminium accents around the air vents, the climate control fascia and the DSG shift gate. Picking up the theme of the contrasting red stitching in the steering wheel, the seat belts are also red. No changes have been made to the perfect ergonomics enjoyed by the driver and passenger.