The XL1 is a car of the future that is being built today. Not only are its technologies pioneering, but also the fact that Volkswagen is producing large parts of the XL1 in lightweight and strong carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). The monocoque with its slightly offset seats for driver and front passenger, all exterior body parts as well as functional elements such as the anti-roll bars are all made of CFRP. The preferred process for producing CFRP components at Volkswagen is the RTM process (Resin Transfer Moulding). The density of this material or its specific gravity is only around 20 per cent that of a comparable steel exterior skin. The CFRP parts exhibit a level of stiffness and strength that is by no means inferior to that of comparable steel or aluminium parts, yet the exterior skin of the XL1 is just 1.2 mm thick.
Innovative RTM process
Compared to other methods such as manufacturing CFRP in a prepreg process, CFRP production via RTM is more economical with lower costs at higher part volumes because it can be automated. The RTM parts are produced in multi-shell, heated and vacuum-sealed tools. This involves injecting liquid resin at high pressure into the tool containing the semi-finished carbon material whose interior has the shape of the part to be produced. The part cures afterwards in the mould.
CFRP paves the way to the future
A look at the scales shows why CFRP is the ideal material for the body of the XL1. The Volkswagen weighs just 795 kg. Of this figure, 227 kg represents the entire drive unit including the battery, 153 kg the running gear, 80 kg the equipment and 105 kg the electrical system. That leaves 230 kg, which is precisely the weight of the body – produced largely of CFRP including wing doors, front windscreen with thin-glass technology and the highly safe monocoque. A total of 21.3 percent of the new XL1, or 169 kg, consists of CFRP. In addition, Volkswagen uses lightweight metals for 22.5 percent of all parts (179 kg). Only 23.2 percent (184 kg) of the new XL1 is constructed from steel and iron. The rest of its weight is distributed among various other polymers (e.g. polycarbonate side windows), metals, natural fibres, process materials and electronics.
Thanks to CFRP, the XL1 is not only light in weight, but very safe as well. This is due in part to the high-strength CFRP monocoque that is also lightweight. In a crash, it provides the necessary survival space for the driver and passenger. This is achieved by intelligent design of load paths, including the use of sandwich structures in the monocoque. In addition, the front and rear aluminium car structures absorb a large share of the crash energy. These principles were also implemented in the design of the CFRP doors, where an aluminium impact beam is used to absorb crash energy; a stiff CFRP door frame also minimises intrusions into the CFRP safety cell. Much attention was given to the rescue of occupants as well. If the XL1 is resting upside down on its roof after a rollover accident, pyrotechnic separating screws simplify opening of the doors (swing doors).
XL1 embodies what is feasible today
The new XL1 is currently the most fuel efficient and eco-friendly automobile in the world. The only reason that this vehicle could be built is because it redefined the limits of what is feasible both in terms of the technologies it utilises and its manufacturing method. Consider XL1 technologies: Volkswagen is implementing highly innovative systems and materials that offer the highest efficiency possible today. Consider XL1 manufacturing: In Northern Germany, Europe's largest carmaker has set up a completely new handcrafting-like manufacturing for the XL1, which consists largely of CFRP.
Manufacturing in Osnabrück
The XL1 is manufactured by Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH. In the former Karmann plants there, around 1,800 employees produce such cars as the Golf Cabriolet and the new Porsche Boxster. As is usual in the framework of mass produced vehicles like the Golf Cabriolet, many components such as the monocoque, engine, motor, suspensions and battery are supplied by other plants and external suppliers. However, in the small production series for the XL1, the specialists from Osnabrück are not pursuing the classic path of large-scale production, rather they are practicing automotive handcrafting. Nonetheless, the XL1 production processes implemented in Osnabrück are highly innovative and unique. There were no previous examples of the individual production steps anywhere in the world, because no other car has been produced so thoroughly in a similar composite material. Over the long term, other Group brands will also benefit from the numerous innovations implemented in the XL1. The production process for the new XL1 in detail:
Production stage I – bodyshell frame
Production of the XL1 begins with delivery of the CFRP monocoque, which is produced by a supplier in Austria using the RTM process. The manufacturing process itself was developed over several years in close cooperation with Volkswagen. In Osnabrück, the monocoque is mounted to an assembly support plate; this is where the body is built – but without doors or lids. This first body production stage is referred to as the "bodyshell frame". At this station, all parts are moved to their prescribed design positions by special fixtures. This approach is necessary to maintain the tight manufacturing tolerances.
The various interior and exterior surfaces of the monocoque itself are pretreated in advance. This pretreatment is necessary to attain tight gaps and smooth surfaces. Background: In the interior of the XL1, many of these CFRP surfaces were intentionally left uncovered by trim panels, and so the high-tech material remains visible. The individual CFRP components are joined to one another in the bodyshell frame by gluing – a highly complex and unique process in manufacturing technology. The operation of mounting the roof section to the monocoque illustrates just how complex this process is:
Unlike welded metal parts, the roof of the XL1 cannot simply be placed on the monocoque. Rather the strength of the adhesive material must compensate for all fit gaps of the monocoque-roof side member structure and the different material thicknesses of the laminated roof. Therefore, this part is made to hover over the monocoque before gluing. The gluing process itself is performed according to a precisely defined sequence with precisely defined curing times.
Over the further course of production stage I, the boot pan is brought into position with the water channel, and it is glued and screw fastened. In addition, all structural and exterior skin parts (rear crossmembers, rear termination part, side panels front and rear) are positioned and screwed via a sled fixture. Last but not least, employees check and document the dimensional tolerances of the entire assembly as the final step of every production stage. Each individual part of the XL1 is also documented with a serial number and its production history.
Production stage II – door assembly
In parallel to production stage I, the two wing doors are produced in a separate production stage, including their crash reinforcements. Volkswagen developed its own tool for this, which is used to fit the doors to adjoining body parts with millimetre precision to satisfy the extremely tight production tolerances – even before it is placed in the monocoque. This is the only way to assure that all requirements are fulfilled in the installed state, such as the defined joint seam dimension and uniform transitions between the surfaces. Unlike sheet metal parts, carbon elements cannot be reshaped afterwards.
Production stage III – body assembly
At the third production station, the bodyshell frame is placed on a new fixture. Here, all body parts are assembled to achieve the specified gap dimensions and flush mounting precisions. These parts include the wing doors, bonnet, boot lid, front bumper and various small parts. Adjustment of the wing doors is a special challenge, because a precise fit must be assured to the roof and side body surfaces.
Production stage IV – painting
A total of 32 exterior skin parts are painted on the XL1; six of them are visible carbon parts.
The CFRP parts are specially prepared for painting in the framework of XL1 production. Background: To fulfil the quality standard of a Class A paint job despite a minimally thin and therefore lightweight paint layer, in the RTM process a special fleece layer or resin film is added to the parts as a cover coat. Compared to conventional CFRP paints used in the industry, this yields a weight reduction of over 50 per cent. This innovative CFRP painting process owes its implementation to intensive fundamental work by the Volkswagen Technical Deveopment Centre in Wolfsburg and an associated series of tests by paint experts at the Osnabrück plant.
The paint itself consists of three layers. The primer with a filler material is followed by the base paint – the coloured layer. Then the final layer or clearcoat is applied, which provides a high level of scratch resistance and UV resistance. In the interior, on the other hand, a decorative "matt pearl grey" paint is applied, or – on visible carbon parts such as the sills – a matt clearcoat. The same applies to the roof structure on which Volkswagen omitted trim parts in the interest of attaining optimal weight and maximising open space for the occupants.
Production stage V – front car section
Following painting, all components are transported to final assembly. The first step here is to join the front body section to the prefabricated floor pan. The module of this floor plan consists of components such as the double wishbone front suspension with swivel bearing (produced from die-cast aluminium), anti-roll bar (produced from CFRP), a small 12-Volt battery for the vehicle electrical system and the front ceramic brake discs. Also integrated in front is the high-voltage battery for the plug-in hybrid drive. Another special aspect is the mounting position of the air conditioner: the unit is typically mounted in the vehicle interior. For packaging reasons, however, this is not possible in the XL1. Therefore, the air conditioner is installed in a special insulated capsule in the car's front section. Automatic testing of the vehicle's electrical system and preliminary startup of all electronic components are also performed at the ITC (Startup and Test Centre) in this production stage.
Production stage VI – rear section and interior
The classic merging of the drive unit with the body occurs after assembly of the front end. The entire drive unit (two-cylinder TDI engine, E-motor and 7-speed DSG) is installed in the rear section of the XL1. The rear axle produced from die-cast aluminium together with final drive shafts and ceramic brake discs, as well as the CFRP anti-roll bar, complete the components integrated at the rear.
In parallel, the cockpit is installed at this station via its magnesium supports. Unlike in mass production, no provisions were made for preassembling the XL1 cockpit due to the small production volume. Instead, all individual cockpit parts are mounted inside the vehicle superstructure. The dashboard itself consists of a moulded wood fibre material, which is just 1.4 mm thick and is produced in a special pressing process.
Production stage VII – windscreen, doors and wheels
The XL1 now takes on more of its final shape. After assembly of the drive unit, the laminated glass windscreen is installed, which is only 3.2 mm thick. The wing doors (including outside door mechanisms) are reinstalled; their exact positions and alignments were already set in production stage II. The bonnet is also mounted on the monocoque with centering pins. Last but least, the XL1 gets its magnesium wheels. They are fitted with low rolling resistance tyres sized 115/80 R15 (front) and 145/55 R16 (rear).
Production stage VIII – final assembly of the doors
The wing doors are the most complex add-on components of the XL1 body. After installing the painted door and integrating the window mechanisms, special assembly fixtures are used to glue the polymer side windows into place. The larger part of the windows is permanently joined to the exterior door skin for packaging reasons, while a segment of the lower area of the side windows can be opened. Finally, the reversing cameras are placed in their housings, and the e-mirrors that serve as digital door mirrors are mounted to the exterior CFRP of the door.
Production stage IX – startup
In the context of quality assurance, all electronic control modules and their individual software and wire harness are checked. At the same time, the control modules are interconnected with the vehicle's specific wire harness. Now, final startup of the XL1 is performed. First, the entire high-voltage system is checked. For this purpose, "simulated" isolation faults are introduced to test the system's emergency shutoff functionality. The next step is to start up the internal combustion engine; all actuators and sensors of the TDI engine are checked, and parameter values at its first startup are compared to target values. In parallel, employees adjust the camera-based door mirror (e-Mirror); the correct visual field of the e-Mirror is optimally tuned using a special computer program.
After all systems have been started up, a check is made of all electrical equipment; this too is done according to a precisely observed checklist. Only then is the production of the XL1 completed with a test drive to check dynamic vehicle functions. Now the world's most efficient car can be delivered!
Notes:
TDI, TSI, DSG and Twincharger are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG or other companies of the Volkswagen Group in Germany and other countries.
