Volkswagen's slick and fuel-efficient car makes U.K. debut in London

The two-seater diesel-electric hybrid, with the ability to achieve a fuel consumption figure of 133km/L while emitting just 21 g/km of greenhouse gases, turned heads as it passed through the streets of London, with its white carbon fibre body shell standing out in contrast to black cabs and iconic red double-decker buses.

The slick and futuristic car is in limited production - with its body is made largely of carbon fibre reinforced polymer, while its drivetrain melds a two-cylinder 800cc diesel engine with an electric motor. Like any supercar, it sits low and features scissor-opening doors. However its 120 litre boot space can be considered more practical than most supercars.

The left-hand drive only model is manufactured at Volkswagen's Osnabruck factory in Germany, which also produces the Golf Cabriolet and Porsche Boxster. Unlike these cars, the XL1 is 'handcrafted' using small series production processes. An initial production run of 250 XL1 vehicles will be made with pricing to be announced soon.