Volkswagen Group leader Dr Ferdinand Piech has let the cat out of the bag with news of a sports version of the XL1 to be powered by a 150kW/133Nm version of Ducati’s 1.2-litre V-twin superbike.
Ducati is owned by Volkswagen Group brand Audi so the connection is obvious. Word is the Ducati engine produces peak power at 10,750rpm and torque maxes out at 9000rpm – that should wake the neighbors in early morning departures.
The motorcycle engine will drive via the Xli’s existing PQ200 seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Like the XL1 and the Phaeton before it, the XL Sport is pet project of Dr Piech and it seems the Volkswagen Group’s leader tired of his PR Department delaying announcement of the new model so he took it up himself to confirm the news which had been mooted a few weeks back in the German media.
Without the cumbersome electric motors and batteries of the existing XL1, the Volkswagen XL Sport should tips the scales under 816kgs so the motorcycle media reckons zero to 100km/h comfortably under 4.0 seconds – and that’s in the ‘supercar’ league.
