大众梦幻小车的大志向

    哈肯伯格指出，大众目前正从XL1身上积累经验，比如，如何缩短制造碳纤维零部件的周期。到目前为止，冲压金属片的周期已经大为缩短，使得碳纤维虽然在强度和质量上占优，但却并不实用。

    尽管XL1并不是为速度而生，但它的最高时速也能达到99英里，只不过百公里加速时间需要12.7秒。而再生制动能将动力回输给锂电池【这种设计让人想起了本田汽车（Honda）诞生虽早、却始终难以热卖的Insight混动汽车】。

    XL1算是皮耶主持推出的第四代超级节能汽车了。大众推出的第一款这类车是两人座的，车身狭窄，仅能容纳一位坐在司机边上的乘客。而眼下这款车保留了前几代车的原汁原味，副驾驶座比驾驶座略微靠后，能让车身更窄，空气动力学性能更佳。

    那250位有幸试驾XL1的人将会接受大众公司的细致调查，以了解他们到底喜欢哪些地方，不喜欢哪些地方。汽车发烧友杂志《汽车》（Automobile）表示，大众正在考虑把这辆车的设计用到一款运动型轿车上去。

    无论大众怎么运用从XL1身上学到的知识和经验，它都会被全球汽车界所研究效仿，就像上个世纪末丰田所经历的那样。而这正是费迪南德•皮耶希望看到的。（财富中文网）

    译者：清远

    Hackenberg noted that VW is learning from the XL1, how to reduce cycle times for fabricating parts and components from carbon fiber for example. Until now, stamping metal has been much quicker, rendering carbon fiber impractical despite its strength and lightness.

    Not meant to be speedy, the XL1 nevertheless can reach 99 miles per hour, thought acceleration to 62 miles per hour is a relatively laid back 12.7 seconds. Regenerative braking returns power to the lithium-ion battery. (The XL1's design recall's Honda's (HMC) early but slow-selling Insight hybrid.)

    This is the fourth iteration of a super-efficient car ordered by Piech. VW designed the first version of the narrow two-seater with the passenger sitting behind the driver. This one retains a flavor of the original, the passenger seated to the side and slightly behind the driver, allowing the car's body to be extra narrow and aerodynamic.

    The 250 lucky recipients of XL1 will be surveyed and polled meticulously by VW to learn what they like and don't about the car. Automobile, the enthusiast magazine, says that VW is thinking about using the design for a sports sedan.

    However VW uses the knowledge and experience gained from the XL1, the automaker will likely be studied by the rest of the automotive world, just as Toyota was at the end of the last century. FerdnandPiech wouldn't have it any other way.