VW Mission Efficiency: An Electric Retro Car with Impressive Range
Do you still remember the VW XL1? In 2013, the Wolfsburg-based automaker unveiled the first production 1-liter car. Built in a limited run of just 200 units, the two-seater—with its teardrop-shaped carbon-fiber body, covered rear wheels, and a drag coefficient of 0.189—was more of a rolling engineering manifesto than a conventional car. Its plug-in hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 2-cylinder diesel engine and an electric motor, delivered 70 PS. With the “Mission Efficiency,” Volkswagen is now translating this legacy into the electric age. In terms of design, the concept car is reminiscent of the XL1, but technically it is geared toward mass production, as it is based on the ID Polo and incorporates key components of the new front-wheel-drive MEB+ platform.
Volkswagen promises no fewer than three world records for the Mission Efficiency. The most important figure is a drag coefficient of 0.158. This means the concept car is designed to cut through the air more aerodynamically than any car previously approved for road use. However, it is not just the drag coefficient that is decisive, but also the small frontal area of 2.08 square meters. It is the combination of these two factors that reduces the power required at higher speeds to push the air aside.
The second record was set under ideal conditions: Traveling at a constant 68 km/h, on flat terrain, and with auxiliary systems turned off, the concept car consumed only 6.48 kWh per 100 kilometers. The third figure is more meaningful because it was achieved under conditions closer to real-world driving. On a documented trip from Wolfsburg via Poznań and Olomouc to Vienna, the Mission Efficiency covered 1,278.36 kilometers. The measured average consumption was 7.51 kWh per 100 kilometers, including charging losses.
The average speed was 67.72 km/h, with a top speed of 138 km/h. The 54.9 kWh net battery capacity required only one recharge during the trip. Upon arrival in Vienna, according to Volkswagen, the battery still had a range of 164 kilometers remaining. Such record-breaking drives are, of course, not a prediction of fuel economy for winter highway trips with four passengers and the heater running. However, they illustrate just how significant the influence of aerodynamics is, especially at higher speeds.
Visually, the concept car embodies the new VW design language, but its actual shape was developed in the wind tunnel. Nearly 4.80 meters long, just 1.39 meters high, and with a body that tapers sharply toward the rear, the coupe replicates the ideal proportions of the XL1: as smooth a front surface as possible, a long roofline, and a tapered rear. In aerodynamics, this principle is known as “boat tailing.” The fully enclosed rear wheels, the nearly closed underbody, and the long side air deflectors minimize disruptions to the airflow. The wheels are also particularly important; according to VW, they account for 25 to 30 percent of aerodynamic drag. That’s why the front wheel wells fit snugly around the tires, while internal deflectors are designed to prevent air from entering the rims and creating turbulence there. At the rear, the wheels disappear beneath the body panels.
The front end also plays an active role. Three flush-mounted cooling air flaps can open individually or in combination. When cooling isn’t necessary, they remain closed—at which point the concept car achieves its best drag coefficient of 0.158. During fast charging, they open to improve thermal conditions. Volkswagen has deliberately omitted camera-based side mirrors because well-optimized, traditional mirrors are only marginally worse in overall performance, yet are more affordable and consume less energy.
Beneath the spectacular exterior lies not some mysterious special-purpose engine, but the 99 kW (135 PS) front-wheel-drive system from the ID Polo. The permanently excited synchronous motor delivers 264 Nm of torque and works with a modified input gearbox featuring a longer gear ratio. The battery, front axle, steering, and basic rear-axle design also come from the MEB+ platform.
Volkswagen is thus positioning the concept car not only as a record-breaking vehicle but also as a glimpse into the potential of future electric compact cars. “The Mission Efficiency is the best answer to the question of what sets Volkswagen apart in the electric age: technology for everyone, not just a few,” says Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer, emphasizing that the records were not achieved through esoteric specialized technology, but through affordable components from the ID Polo and ID Cross. However, it wasn’t quite possible to achieve this without any special effort at all. The body combines an ID Polo structure with a self-supporting aluminum architecture. The doors, hood, fenders, and other body panels are made of a high-strength CFRP-aramid composite.
Unlike the uncompromising XL1, the Mission Efficiency is designed—at least in theory—to carry four people. The coupe offers two full-size seats in the front and two rear seats for passengers up to about 1.60 meters tall. With 481 liters of trunk space and a fold-down rear seat, the concept car is surprisingly practical. When the seatbacks are folded down, a loading area up to 1.80 meters long is created. Additional compartments under the rear seat and behind the side rear-wheel covers round out the storage options.
The interior follows the lightweight construction philosophy with some unusual results. Instead of built-in speakers, a portable Bluetooth speaker provides the sound. The infotainment system, too, follows the “bring your own device” philosophy, utilizing the driver’s own smartphone or tablet, which is secured via a clamping rail and connected wirelessly. Navigation, media, and other functions are thus displayed on the user’s personal screen, while basic driving and climate control functions remain accessible separately.
A solar system in the glass roof and tailgate supports the vehicle’s electrical system with up to 370 watts. Under ideal conditions, Volkswagen promises this will provide up to 30 kilometers of additional range per day. Added to this are a heat pump and Continental tires optimized for exceptionally low rolling resistance.
Volkswagen has left open whether the Mission Efficiency will ever become a production model. However, the concept car sends a clear message: The XL1 vision lives on—only this time without diesel, but with four seats and significantly fewer compromises. (aum)
More info for topic: VW Mission Efficiency , Aerodynamik-Studie , Elektro , ID Polo
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Photo source: Volkswagen via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Volkswagen via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Volkswagen via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Volkswagen via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Volkswagen via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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