Back in January we reported on the VW XL1 two-seater coupe at which time it was hoped the car would enter production in 2013. This week, in an interview with Automotive News Europe, VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn confirmed this by saying simply that the automaker "will start small series production by 2013, in Germany." No details have yet been released about the production version of the XL1 Hybrid concept, which burns just 0.9 liters of fuel for every 100 kilometers.

As a plug-in hybrid (with a 2.0-liter diesel TDi engine mated to an electric motor sending power to the wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission) the car will doubtless have an important role to play in Volkswagen's mission to become the largest electric cars manufacturer in the world by 2018.