The world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid will make its American display debut and Volvo hopes it will take center stage at the New York International Auto Show.

The plug-in hybrid is one of three remaining candidates for the prestigious 2013 World Green Car of the Year award.

The winning environmental car, which is selected by 66 top motoring journalists from 23 countries around the world, will be announced at the New York International Auto Show on March 28, 2013.

The Volvo Car Group press conference in the Jacob Javits Center at 10:30 AM on March 28 will also include the world premiere of Volvo’s latest R-Design models as well as the announcement of a new and exciting addition to the North American Volvo model line-up.

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid. It includes two complete drive trains and a battery. The driver can select the preferred driving mode via three buttons that give the car three entirely different temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power.

“The ingenious on-demand possibility makes the V60 Plug-in Hybrid superior to all other hybrids on the market. Thanks to the Pure, Hybrid and Power modes, the car is the perfect choice for the uncompromising customer who wants to minimise his or her carbon dioxide emissions but maximise driving pleasure,” said Doug Speck, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Car Group.

Per Volvo, pushing the Pure button gives the driver up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) on pure electric power.

In Hybrid mode, the carbon dioxide emissions are 48 g/ kilometers. This corresponds to fuel consumption of just 1.8 l/100 kilometers (NEDC certification driving cycle for hybrids), translating into 130 mpg.

The Power mode releases the combined capacity of the diesel engine and electric motor, creating a veritable driving machine with a total power output of 215+70 horsepower. The electric motor’s lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car’s acceleration from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds.

The post Volvo V60 diesel Plug-in Hybrid Heading To NY appeared first on HybridCars.com.

In Volkswagen’s own words, the XL1 is the most fuel-efficient production car in the world, with a European combined fuel consumption rating of 261 mpg.

Powered by a diesel plug-in hybrid system, this two-seat vehicle can cover up to 32 miles all-electric mode.

While it looks like a concept car, the XL1 is actually a real production car. VW did not confirm exact production previsions, but did say production numbers will be low and that the two-seater will be initially only available in Europe.

The XL1 follows pure sports-car design principles: light weight (1953 pounds), very low aerodynamics drag (Cd 0.19), and a low center of gravity. Volkswagen said the XL1 has the ability to cruise down the road at a constant 62 mph while using just 8.3 horsepower.

In all-electric mode, the XL1 requires less than 0.1 kilowatt-hour to cover more than a kilometer.

The plug-in hybrid system consists of a 47 horsepower two-cylinder TDI engine, a 27 horsepower electric motor, a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a lithium-ion battery.

With the 261 mpg fuel consumption figure, Volkswagen wants to show what is technically feasible in the automotive industry.

The XL1 also has a top speed of 99 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 12.7 seconds.

Conceptually, the XL1 represents the third evolutionary stage of Volkswagen’s 1-liter car strategy.

When the new millennium was ushered in, Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, currently Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, formulated the visionary goal of putting into production a practical car that had combined fuel consumption of one liter per 100 kilometer (235 mpg). The XL1 is the vehicle that brings this vision to reality.

Volkswagen’s engineers and designers came up with a body design which delivers more everyday utility than the two previous prototypes. In the L1, the 1-liter car that was shown in 2002 and 2009, the driver and passenger sat in a tandem arrangement for optimal aerodynamics; in the XL1, the two occupants sit slightly offset, side by side, almost like a conventional vehicle.

Size-wise, the XL1 is 153.1 inches long, 65.6 in wide, and 45.4 in low. By comparison, a Volkswagen Polo is slightly longer (156.3 in) and wider (66.2 in), but is significantly taller at 57.6 inches. Even a sports car like today’s Porsche Boxster is 5.1 inches taller.

Volkswagen called the XL1 a car of the future, built for today.

Volkswagen

The post VW XL1 Diesel Hybrid Production Car To Reach 261 MPG appeared first on HybridCars.com.