Driving a Volkswagen XL1 For the First Time

Merch:
Hats:
motoloot.com/products/regular...
Keytags :
motoloot.com/collections/regu...
Shirts, hoodies, stickers
www.redbubble.com/people/regul...
Patreon
/ regularcarreviews
How to submit a car
• Video

[@catsspat]

Passes emissions with flying colors because diesel engine stays off when the software detects it's being tested.

[@ivanoffw]

Only a few monkeys suffocated from the testing of the diesel engine.

[@edstratton]

It mainly passes with flying colours because at 21g/km it has the lowest CO2 emissions of any car on the road, by a big margin.

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

@@edstratton Just be quiet you ignorant fool ffs! Emissions have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with fuel consumption! You can burn 1l and produce thousand times more toxic emissions than burning 10l. It all depends on what and how it is burned, not on how much. This car has MUCH more harmful emissions than a modern semi truck or a whole fleet of V8 trucks or supercars! Horrible NOx emissions, particle emissions, etc. It wouldn't even be legal.

[@goclunker]

@@Mgoblagulkablong Oh shut up you bloody idiot. All cars cheat emissions, because they are impossible to meet in today's ICE technology

[@edstratton]

Emissions are stated in grams of CO2 emitted per kilometre driven (g/km). The official XL1 figure (genuine, with no cheating) is 21g/km which is the lowest of any road legal car on the planet. Except it’s not a road legal car in the USA because that country doesn’t allow new cars with cameras instead of mirrors or with no passenger airbag.

[@lukewebeck1682]

The engine legit sounds like when you're drinking soda and then you get to the bottom of the cup and you're making so much noise

[@nopers2223322]

The front looks good at least

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

Sounds like the legendary Cominturismo.

[@nicermog]

It's my favorite sound in the world.

[@MyFabian94]

I actually got to drive on the Production Cars as a Promotional Thing so my Uncle had one for a Week and I got to drive a Leg on the Autobahn. And as it is with these Low Power but Hyper Aerodynamic Cars, it will run 200. It takes ages to get there, but eventually it settles in right about there. And it still barely uses 4l/100km according to the Onboard Computer. It is absolutely terrifying with a Crosswind at those Speeds though.

[@KingHalbatorix]

for this car, gravity is only a suggestion

[@onenerdarmy]

Since you're German I'm assuming you mean 200 kph, which for Americans is still a ludicrous 124 mph in a tiny prototype plastic car however!!!

[@Darkest_matter]

@@onenerdarmy Isn't ig kmh not kph

[@b0bsaget007]

@@Darkest_matter kilometers per hour has many different, acceptable abbreviations, including but not limited to km/h and kph.

[@yammmit]

there is no way this car will do 200mph LOL

[@Corkoth55]

Electric engine and diesel motor. God bless Mr. Regular the English major.

[@calebdavies526]

engine sounds like youre dragging aluminum cans behind you after getting married

[@edstratton]

Actually it sounds more like a woodpecker that forgot to stop pecking. But then what do you expect from an 830cc 2-cylinder? More than enough to power this slippery featherweight along, which is all that matters.

[@jasonyoung6420]

This was an amazing engineering feat when it was made; it would cost a fraction of what it did were it made today thanks to "exotic" materials becoming more commonplace; not to mention that it could probably be full electric with the advances in battery technology; would be a great city and/or commuter car.

[@lsswappedcessna]

And it could have actual mirrors and windows, because the EV motors would remove the need to worry about fuel economy. If VW wants a funky looking car, this is an interesting idea. Also add passenger seats and a proper trunk/frunk for practicality.

[@edstratton]

"EV motors would remove the need to worry about fuel economy". - Yes but then you'd have range anxiety instead. Whereas, the XL1 has unlimited range - you can just keep filling the tank (no shortage of gas stations) - you don't have to charge it up at all if you don't want to, though you'll save even more money of you do.

[@timaustin2000]

I'd absolutely love VW to make a pure EV version of this.

[@automation7295]

@@lsswappedcessna You clearly know nothing about cars! Even if someone drives an EV, they still need to worry about range. You still worry about something when driving ANY vehicle.

[@automation7295]

@@timaustin2000 Why do American suddenly wish VW would make EV version of this? XL-1 was never sold outside Europe.

[@MeDicen_Rocha]

I still think that if they grabbed this design and tossed in the Golf-E powetrain, they got a seller.

[@XxmatixX6videosdiariosdenadav]

This body is REALLY small, also it's entirely made out of carbon fibre

[@battles.digital]

After driving this last weekend, can confirm everything you said and noticed - in order. The camera does NOT pick up the full engine clatter experience, though!

[@edstratton]

So you also didn't figure out that the steering wheel is adjustable.

[@802Garage]

Honestly looks incredibly cool, IMO. The white suits it.

[@bibasik7]

*_machine gun noises_* "The diesel engine kicked in!"

[@benjamingoodman2690]

Engine sounds like when you push a shopping cart and it rattles around.

[@GermanCube]

4:00 "early 90s Garmin thing" - yeah, sure -.-

[@londonjolly9174]

Enclosed neo-cyber casket? Check. Fish-eye camera mirrors that would terrify me every time I saw them warping reality? Check. A gremlin sitting behind me loudly slurping soda from an empty cup, but somewhat randomly? Check. Wonder why there weren't millions made.

[@RESET1776]

Between the road noise, that engine kicking on, & all the complaining I was having flashbacks of one of my old diesel rabbits.

[@nathanpratt3058]

Yeah, he just didn't have anything nice to say, gave it zero slack He was also getting quite distracted about the features

[@detaart]

Old diesel rabbit ... engine kicking on randomly ... makes sense.

[@estherterrestria]

*Claustrophobia* has entered the chat

[@edstratton]

Believe me, it is *incredibly easy* to reverse an XL1 into a parking space! This guy didn't even try, he just assumed it was going to be difficult and wimped out, by (completely unnecessarily) opening the door to lean out and look behind. For heavens sake this car is incredibly narrow and short and has rear parking sensors!!! The e-mirrors tell you all you need to know, they have a wide angle of view and you can trust them. The normal glass mirrors that you get on conventional cars don't give you any more information to help you than these do. What a defeatist.

[@automation7295]

I guess you never heard of the word "terrifying". Some people get terrified when reversing cars with no rear window, also you can always rely on cameras, they're likely to break.

[@izhlayukio5863]

apart from the harsh ride and weird sounds, this thing looks great!

[@brokenacoustic]

0:52 Instant thumbs up for the Hunter Thompson quote.

[@lochter1569]

Watch a guy talking shit about another guys car for 10 minutes straight

[@andrewsilver9730]

Straight pipe it

[@junatah5903]

Actually the funny thing is, you cant really straight pipe it. It has its system then it dumps straight out the bottom of the car. XD

[@leftmorningstar6954]

Ever looked at a comment and been like I wish i wrote that..

[@GetsugaTensho85]

Yeah I think I'm doing that right now!

[@GewelReal]

No cause I dont need to compensate for my dick with virtual viagra aka "likes"

[@mcearl8073]

Lefteris Gaming Yea but definitely not right now.

[@GewelReal]

@@kitrocks8058 what if I like my dick small

[@tabbyclawproductions7943]

Dang, yeah man

[@ninovonzivohlava1607]

“I’m so glad it’s an automatic.” - One of the most american things to say

[@jarlevanlandeghem8595]

100%

[@12ealDealOfficial]

Good man who works at that auto museum and was able to get the XL1 for the drive, and he's a patient passenger to boot. I need to go to Nashville(?) now and check out all the cars at the museum now.

[@Maskinmester-DK]

It's a seven-speed, not a six-speed and it's not automatic its a DSG!

[@automation7295]

You idiot, DSG is still automatics.

[@jayyydizzzle]

A E S T H E T I C on that vw tho

[@Gunny426HemiPlymouth]

For what it is that thing gets up and goes! Very cool

[@jryalls]

I’d like to drive the 1 prototype VW made with the Ducati engine.

[@edstratton]

Notice how he loved the way people were staring.

[@edstratton]

He says the cupholder is tiny but he hasn't yet discovered that you can easily pop out the inner rubber ring to make it a larger diameter holder - it's actually a two-size holder and can hold quite a big cup/bottle.

[@Pogosoke]

Love the Thompson quote !

[@JVZ356]

This car is amazing. I wish I could have one.

[@JVZ356]

@Tyler 324 It looks like nothing else. It looks like the future. It's weird and different. I love it for the same reasons that I love the Phaeton. It represents a company trying. It's as impressive as the chrysler turbine car.

[@edstratton]

@@JVZ356 I agree. However most people are afraid to look too different. Even when it's something as sub-zero cool as an XL1.

[@techmaniac43]

@@JVZ356... Looks COOL, i agree with that. But that noisy diesel engine on the back, that literally sounds like if something will blow inside there, is what destroyed this car. It would be tons better if it was Fully Electric.

[@tissot233]

@@techmaniac43 The whole concept of the car was to build as efficient ICE car as possible and they did achieve that. The car is also almost decade old already.

[@ginofoogle6944]

He keeps talking about the garmin headunit being from the 2000's.. there were VERY few cars with touchscreen headunits in the 2000's (if at all).. i think he means 2010 rather...

[@no1DdC]

We had a very similar unit around 2003, although it was from Blaupunkt, not Garmin. Definitely touchscreen, but it was the resistive kind.

[@StoicFighter]

So that’s what a two cylinder diesel sounds like

[@greasysteve5671]

If you guys are ever around the Quad Cities I've got an 08 Ford Escape I'd love for you to review

[@icebreakertech]

My VW UP! from 2013 has that Garmin navigation, they were delivered with a Garmin or Navigon unit.

[@dariopiovani5077]

Makes sense considering a lot of the interior (including the gauges) comes from an up!. xD

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

Beautiful little thing, IMO.

[@evlo8059]

lol mirror black screen for mirror, the reflection inception!

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

Luckily cars like that are the kind of cars people dont mess with on the road usually because they assume theyre something rare. Just like how most people dont tailgate/cut off classic cars on the road and keep a respectful distance from them even if theyre being a jerk to everyone else

[@edstratton]

He made quite a meal of reversing into that parking space. In fact the XL1 is so small (narrower and shorter than a VW Polo) that getting it into a space is easy, and of course you soon get used to reversing it. The parking sensors provide additional assurance. The lack of a rear window is something you soon get over, as your confidence grows in the e-mirrors. I guess you could buy a wireless backup camera kit though if it bothered you - something adequate can be bought for around 30 bucks.

[@edstratton]

One thing was very clear throughout this drive - he was REALLY enjoying himself. If he owned one he'd have a lot of fun every time he went out in it.

[@jasonmosler]

thumbs up for the thompson quote.

[@ConquerDriving]

I would love a go in this car.

[@malto4094]

Any hope you'll drive one day that sweet LARC-LX ? (yes I saw the video)

[@richardparnell3770]

That bar across the window would drive me nuts. Fuck this whole car would drive me nuts

[@LJsGarage]

That car looks like it's not done loading lol the backs odd but I think it's got some good intentions

[@takafumiarisawa70]

Wow I've never seen anxiety incarnate until now gatdang.

[@ryanwilsonbackup]

Nice!!!

[@waynejones3428]

Neat!!!💥

[@zo1dberg]

Of course it's in Celsius. Because that's normal.

[@bonham1981]

What's that giant thing in the background at 2:16?

[@pat7785]

No rear view mirror freaks me out

[@edstratton]

Yes except that these cameras are better than mirrors because they have a very wide angle of view and superb night vision.

[@mccrackenphillip]

The steering wheel looks interesting

[@BIMMERKID2]

How are there any of these in the states

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

Is it posible that you can do a review of a 1991 Mazda 626. Or a 1995 Hyundai Lantra? I have Nostalgia feelings as a kid with that 2 Cars. I mis them

[@stevetheartistguy]

Well that's different!

[@TimDaCorgi]

I remember seeing this car in a motor trend magazine in 2011 and thinking this was the future lol

[@Pichuscute]

Did I hear an american say "aircon"? Is that a thing somewhere in the US? I've only heard it from the UK/Japan.

[@sketchpro12]

I've been wanting to see this car in person since I initially saw the release of it... think they'll let me drive it if I ever go there?

[@bloodypsycho6025]

JAEGERTECH I would assume no unless your a journalist and have good insurance, as your driving a car worth allot with parts that really can’t be replaced

[@LorandHungary]

Imagine someone hitting this car and thinking "Oh no biggie , it's a volkswagen" and then they would see the repair bill.

[@fasacosta1954]

sounds like one of those quieter air compressors when that tiny engine is running, almost same clicking noise.

[@mccrackenphillip]

Please note that I was a hybrid introduction student my question is what safety does it contain for like if the Large Battery dies deep 6 I call it will it ready on or give a warning ?

[@edstratton]

When the battery charge falls to 14% the diesel engine cuts in.

[@mccrackenphillip]

@@edstratton when driving it or at home when not being used because I know the prius has a safety for when if the 12v battery is dead or if the HY battery is dead it will not ready on

[@vtxjosh]

You guys should do a vid on my wife's 2005 Beetle "Dark Flint Edition"

[@ivanoffw]

After watching this video, I wonder why large highway driving semi trucks don't use a smaller version of the diesel-electric system of modern day locomotive? Could someone build a large SUV, like a Suburban, and use a scaled down diesel-electric system, I believe that GM probably still knows how to build the system since they owned the Electro-Motive Division.

[@cplinstructor]

I have been saying that for years. THAT is the “solution” the enviro whackos want, it would barely use any fuel while having none of the disadvantages (and pollution) of an electric. But they will never allow it because it’s diesel. Plus the goal is not environmentalism it is control, force everyone to have short range cars that can’t leave the liberal cities and cost so much the poor can’t afford them and have to rely on the government. A car that can cross the country on one tank? They will never allow it.

[@erebostd]

This guy has no clue about the car. The seat is tiltable, not fixed. The gearbox is a 7-speed, not a 6-speed. Geeze.

[@edstratton]

He said "This seat does not recline". That's not correct - it does recline. There is one lever for sliding the driver's seat back and forth on its runners, and another lever for reclining it. Both levers are just underneath the front of the seat and fall to hand easily. The passenger seat however is totally unmovable. Thankfully, both seats are an extremely comfortable shape.

[@andrewerickson6507]

I want this

[@CrackBerryAddict]

That airbag cover is straight out of my 2013 Beetle.

[@tissot233]

XL1 is from 2013. So makes sense.

[@friendlytravelagent7784]

I would love to see a review of the Audi E-Tron.

[@suprastevio2264]

You know when you're camping and you can hear a woodpecker way out somewhere in the woods? That's what the engine sounds like when it kicks on...

[@miketeeveedub5779]

RCR GoPro: Looks left to check cross traffic Us: we'll take your word for it. All of hindrances of a Countach, without any of it's sex-appeal or performance, other then mileage, which I guess makes up for that. 100 kilometers on one litre? Riiiight...

[@onenerdarmy]

There's total sex appeal. Just need to find the granola munching biodiesel brewing hippie chicks and this car makes sense.

[@RandyRandersonthefamous]

of course the guy with the huge ass military barge craft is also the one with the XL1. What's next, the smokey nagato v4 supra?

[@xnopyt13]

They really should just advertise the Audi A2 more tho, it's also a mpg monster

[@TakuroSpirit77]

Who keeps putting a coke can on the bicycle tires?

[@SouthParkStudio]

I remember accidentally making my bicycle into a dirt bike as a kid

[@FASTERLANEDisBACK]

Volkswagen also has a much cooler one called the XL Sport, but it's only a concept.

[@ferrarifast1429]

Can someone genuinely explain to me why is everyone hating on this car so hard? This car is brilliant

[@edstratton]

Probably jealousy. And the frustration of it never being available in the US. And the price. There are loads of intelligent reviews on KZbin of this masterpiece of a car, so no need to watch ones by people who don't get why VW did this or why they only made 250 of them.

[@iHaveTheDocuments]

Finally a car with low enough horsepower as to not scare mr regular. It's close though.

[@rnadee835]

it gon yeet

[@jussapitka6041]

I bet that light switch would fit a 1998 Passat.

[@grahamsmith2022]

Just what I've always wanted,a car based on diesel locomotive technology,even down to the suspension and wheels and sounds like a cardboard box being rapidly shaken with a walnut in it.

[@GashimahironChl]

Oh man that's exactly what it sounds like when that diesel kicks in!

[@tissot233]

It was never meant to be sold. It was a concept car introduced in 2010 to get 100km range for 1 litre, and they did achieve it. It was kind of peak VW Group stuff when they became the world largest car manufacturer and their other brands were doing crazy stuff, like Bugatti with their production car speed records.

[@noreguibi5568]

The steering wheel DOES adjust!

[@edstratton]

Yes that's right the XL1 steering wheel is adjustable. But this guy gets into one for the first time ever and instead of looking how to adjust it he just emphatically advises the viewer that it does NOT adjust. Numbskull.

[@drivebyemusic]

Sounds like you're constantly trying to change gears whilst not fully pressing down the clutch pedal lol (I know its auto)

[@kayokk-]

Good review! I like the authenticity in detail, but not the superfluous jabber.

[@04dram04]

You didnt tap your shoes before getting it!

[@edstratton]

Interestingly, the XL1 only requires 8 horsepower to maintain a speed of 100 km/h (about 62 mph) on level ground, due to its extreme light weight, incredibly slippery aerodynamics and ultra-low rolling resistance. No wonder it uses less energy to push it along the road than any other production car. Regardless of whatever super efficient method of propulsion that VW ended up deciding to install into it, it was always going to be the lowest polluting car on the planet too.

[@chassoto]

6:10 reverse shocker?

[@GiulioImparato]

i would honestly daily drive an old light econobox (in the style of the Yugo ,civic mk1 , or mk1 Golf) with that kind of small diesel engine and get infinte Miles per gallon in style.

[@Vaino_Hotti]

Old golf diesels exist, they are absolute crap, they sound like gravel in a cement mixer, no power, no power accessories, no ac, light as hell so crosswinds and oncoming semis scare you shitless. You cant hear yourself think going over 65mph. If you don't mind a barebones car and you dont drive highways, its alright. Would definitely get something newer and safer and sacrifice that 5mpg

[@GiulioImparato]

@@Vaino_Hotti My first car was a 50 hp citroen AX, it a was a 1000 gasoline engine , but my dream would have been the diesel 1400cc . with only 750 kg of weight it was marvelous. believe me when i say Safety would be the only real problem, i loved that car.

[@wordyweirdo8581]

You should do the EV1 by GM. That would be cool :)

[@La-yt1wr]

Wordy Weirdo They’re all crushed or the remaining was deactivated from GM

[@mywindow9929]

The video you're looking for is called: "Who killed the electric car"

[@jareknowak8712]

@@La-yt1wr i think there are few more on the streets. Saw one on YT week ago.

[@Banom7a]

most of them has been deactivated, although some people trying to restore them but couldn't get title because GM just straight banned them. The only one that is still legally active is the one in Smithsonian Museum

[@wordyweirdo8581]

@@La-yt1wr not all of them got crushed. Theres still a few out there.

[@minimanadam]

No rear view mirrors ? In Wisconsin they would not consider it road legal even with the screens

[@jareknowak8712]

In Europe there are some cars with electronic mirrors on the streets.

[@26muca07]

It's the angry albino turtle!

[@Boemel]

If this was cheap like an old prius i would love one ...

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

Sounds like the legendary Cominturismo.

[@dan-5678]

"I am clear" meanwhile all we see is the black part of the window filling the camera

[@tissot233]

Do you have any idea what you are talking about? Transmission is DSG and the seat is adjustable. What the hell.

[@lonelydriver1421]

Will we ever make it to the point in time where cars are flying, congesting the peaceful skies..

[@aserta]

No. Not in your life time. Simple explanation, we can't break the laws of physics and napkin math says we're nowhere near advanced to field a vehicle that can have the "qualities" to match the notion of a "plane-car". IE, VTOL lift off and landing, hover, high maneuverability, low noise, passenger carry on the same grade with current standards, safety matching current standards (AND more, cause flight), range, and last but not least, doing ALL of the above with a power source we frankly cannot create at this point in time in our technological time-frame. Currently, the most efficient form of transportation (with a skew on long distance) is a train. Momentum carries a lot of "weight".

[@jareknowak8712]

Flying is to expensive in the terms of energy.

[@anandsuralkar2947]

i want it

[@DR-ld4jn]

Wow

[@zeeone4492]

Looks like a car from the UFO series

[@ligerstripe99]

*shrugs* if it was available and at a good price i would've bought it.

[@lukesky36]

The engine sounds like a V6 bogging in way too high of a gear up a hill at low rpm

[@raceforspeed]

I want this car, sadly it won't happen :/