Spied: Volkswagen Filmed Trying Out XL1 Diesel-Electric Hybrid

The XL1 is Volkswagen's vision of a plug-in hybrid car that returns an amazingly low combined fuel consumption of 0.9lt/100km, equal to 261 mpg US and 313 mpg UK, or to be precise, MPGe (Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent) since this figure includes the use of both the internal combustion engine and the battery.

The two-seater model was presented as a concept last year and is now heading for very limited run production starting from next year - if all goes according to plan. VW's engineers were filmed in Spain completing new tests with the car as they prepare for its introduction.

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2013 VW Golf GTI Study Officially Revealed in Paris, European Sales Begin Next Summer

Who are we kidding; it may be billed as a concept, but even VW doesn’t make much effort into hiding the fact that the "design study" that made its debut alongside the rest of the seventh-generation Golf models at the 2012 Paris Auto Show is actually the production version of the Mk7 Golf GTI .

The German automaker even released a launch date: the new Golf GTI in both three- and five-door body styles will go on sale in mainland Europe in early 2013 and in the UK next summer (no word yet on when it will arrive in North America).

The new GTI stands out from lesser versions of the Golf thanks to its honeycomb grille (first introduced in the Mk5) with double red-stipe accents, the smoked LED rear lights and license plate illumination, the red brake calipers behind the five-spoke alloy wheels and the 80 mm diameter tailpipes with a chrome finish.

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New VW Golf BlueMotion Study is the Most Fuel Efficient Golf Ever, Returns 3.2lt/100km or 73.5mpg

Volkswagen first told us about the new Golf BlueMotion during the presentation of the Golf Mk7 earlier this month, and now the German carmaker has released photos and additional details on the car that will be introduced as a concept at the Paris Motor Show.

Much like the Golf GTI study that will join the rest of the range at VW's stand, there's nothing really conceptual about the Golf BlueMotion, sans the informational stickers on the side of the car, as it too will go on sale in Europe next summer.

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2014 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 Design Study Breaks Cover Early

The first batch of photos of the new Volkswagen Golf GTI Concept were unloaded on the internet today, less than 24 hours ahead of the car's reveal at the 2012 edition of the Paris Motor Show.

Much like the previous model that was displayed in concept form at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the new Golf GTI is also going to be shown as a near-production study. What this means is that that the car's looks and mechanicals will remain virtually unchanged when it goes on sale next year starting with Europe in spring.

Volkswagen's new hot hatch incorporates all the traditional design cues of the series like the honeycomb upper and lower front grilles with red accents, which now extend to the angular headlamps, five spoke alloy wheels wrapped in beefy tires, and two large exhaust pipes split far.

The darkened tail lamps, rear diffuser in black, a discreet roof spoiler, the LED headlamps and the new black trim on the front bumper round out the visual changes on the outside.

Inside, you will find classic tartan upholstery covering the body-hugging sport seats along with black piano trim décor, and red stitching applied on the flat-bottom sports steering wheel and the transmission lever.

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