Parked on a suburban side road, David Power's Volkswagen XL1 looks as though it has just landed from outer space. One of its two butterfly doors is open, attracting curious passers-by.
"Everyone stops to look at it," he says, clearly enjoying their delight. This miniature two-seat coupé (the occupants sit slightly offset) is a diesel-engined plug-in hybrid with a carbonfibre body, digital side 'mirrors' and a drag coefficient of just 0.186 - 2.5 times lower than a contemporary Volkswagen Golf.
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