Here's a quick 'walk around' tour of my Volkswagen XL1. At the time the video was made, I had owned this amazing car for five years, and driven about 7200 miles in it since delivery in July 2015. This was my first video - please excuse my novice production skills, especially the editing!

Not a concept car or prototype, the XL1 is a limited edition production car, with just 200 examples sold worldwide in 2014-15.
26 cars were sold to UK buyers (including me!!) and VW UK also keep two press cars. It’s still the world’s most aerodynamic (Cd = 0.189) and most efficient production car (requires less energy per mile than any other). The official fuel consumption figure is 313 miles per gallon, but in the real world I get between 120 and 200 mpg depending on various factors.

Always amazing fun to drive and the massive and hugely positive reaction it gets out on the road makes every journey memorable, whether it's to buy the groceries or do a car show. I use it in all weathers and it's been very reliable. The seats are really comfortable and it's got all mod cons and a decent size boot/trunk for such a small two seater, so we've had some great weekends away in it (with the dog!). Also took it to around 100 car events over the last 5 years! Including winning a runner-up trophy at the Salon Privé supercar concours in 2015 (in the Pirelli Prestige & Performance Concours).

Scroll down for some more info on the car for anyone who'd like to get into more detail:

0:00 Car arrival & Intro
0:41 Exterior/body details
2:39 Wheels & tyres
3:07 Handling & grip, Steering feel
3:40 Staggered seating layout
3:50 Carbon Fibre Safety Cell
4:22 Doors, build quality
4:34 Pyrotechnic (exploding) door mounts
4:47 Front section of body, Battery
5:21 Drive System (ICE & Electric Motor)
5:52 Driving in EV mode (no ICE used)
6:14 Driving in Hybrid mode
6:27 "Sailing" (free-wheeling/coasting)
7:13 Miles per Gallon
7:51 Engine bay / More on drive system
9:12 Reliability & Build Quality
9:34 Access for servicing engine
10:00 Trunk/boot, luggage space
10:45 Interior features & comfort
12:00 Rear view cameras & screens
12:52 Optional accessories
13:14 Steering wheel
13:26 Windscreen
13:50 Ground clearance
14:12 Charging
15:16 Engine charges battery; Regen
15:37 Rear lights
16:18 Price; Purpose of car
16:36 Detailed table of specs
16:53 R&D budget same as Veyron
17:34 How I came to buy it & why
18:40 Mileage & how I've used it
18:52 Salon Privé Supercar Concours
19:10 End spiel
19:28 Design sketches
19:39 Walkaround without commentary

2015 Volkswagen XL1:
313 miles per gallon - that’s the official government-tested figure. The fuel tank holds just 10 litres of diesel, and I find I get over 300 miles on a tank pretty much however I drive it.
The main purpose of the XL1 project was to develop new technology and solutions that will enable mainstream VW cars to be more fuel-efficient. It took 12 years to develop at a cost of over £1 billion - a similar R&D budget to the Bugatti Veyron.

• Electric-diesel hybrid • Carbon fibre chassis, body panels and seats • Magnesium gearbox casing and wheels • Ceramic brakes • Weight: 795 Kg

The XL1 is a plug-in hybrid with unlimited range that achieves its NEDC fuel economy of 313 mpg (0.9 litres/100 km) with emissions of just 21 g/km of CO2. Using diesel alone it’s capable of 160 mpg. It's powered by an 830 cc two-cylinder turbo diesel engine with 47 bhp, and a 27 bhp electric motor, delivering power to the rear wheels through a 7 speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). The drag coefficient is incredibly low at just 0.189. If driven in EV mode (on electric power alone) the range is 31 miles (50 km).

Every component of this car has been designed to be as light as possible and/or to reduce rolling resistance or air drag. And yet, the car is well appointed with air-con, hi-fi, bluetooth music/phone connection, sat nav, cruise control, computer, park sensors, powerful LED headlamps, etc. The passenger seat is located further back than the driver’s, to free up elbow space and allow the car to be narrower and thus more aerodynamic to save more fuel. The XL1 is shorter and narrower than a Volkswagen Polo, but lower than a Porsche Boxster.
There are no rear view mirrors – thus greatly reducing air drag and to save more fuel. Instead, two small door-mounted cameras feed pictures to internal TV screens. The cameras have great night vision too. Steering is incredibly direct and precise as there is no power-assistance (it’s not needed as the car is so light). Butterfly doors enable easy access even though the car is so low. The lithium-ion battery (capacity: 5.5 kWh) which is integrated in the front section supplies the 20 Kw electric motor with energy and is constantly being recharged when the car is going downhill or braking or when the diesel engine is running. The engine cuts in and out automatically whenever it is needed.