We always knew the Volkswagen XL1 wouldn't be cheap.
It's a limited-run, carbon-fiber bodied, plug-in hybrid, gull-winged low-slung eco supercar. None of that sounds cheap.

And as Volkswagen UK reveals pricing for the light-weight plug-in hybrid, we now know just how not-cheap it actually is: £98,515, or just under $169,000 at current exchange rates. Ouch.

Still, people will pay that for a Porsche or an Aston Martin without even blinking. Those are much faster of course, but with just 200 XL1s scheduled for worldwide production, your average luxury sports car is nowhere near as exclusive.

The XL1 is the culmination of Volkswagen's mission to produce a "one liter" car--that doesn't refer to engine capacity, but the ability for the car to use just one liter of fuel to travel 100 kilometers--235 mpg in real money.

ALSO READ: 2014 Volkswagen XL1: First Drive Of Wolfsburg's 261-MPG Car

In the end, VW actually beat that goal with the XL1. At 0.9 l/100km in European testing, the XL1's official consumption figure is over 261 mpg.

We'd point out, as ever, that real-world figures will vary hugely depending on what proportion of the car's 31-mile all-electric range and its 0.8-liter twin-cylinder turbocharged diesel is called into action on any given journey.

Not that a 1,750-pound car with a drag coefficient of 0.189 will ever be particularly thirsty, and VW says maintaining 62 mph uses just 8 horsepower. But drivers can only expect hit the highest figures if they make best use of the XL1's 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Performance is either impressive for its economy, or unimpressive for its cost, depending on your outlook on life. With both diesel and electricity working in unison, the 68-horsepower, 103 lb-ft XL1 will reach 62 mph in 12.5 seconds and nudge a limited 99 mph.

MORE: Orders For 261-MPG Volkswagen XL1 Exceed Production of 200

Getting there, as we discovered when driving the XL1 for the first time, is kinda noisy, but also "perky" up to around 50 mph.

The first German buyers have already received their cars and order books are now open in the UK. But for the U.S, the XL1 remains a forbidden fruit--it doesn't meet U.S. safety requirements for airbags, structure, or its clever video-camera mirrors.

Thankfully, VW says technologies developed for the XL1 will find their way into the firm's humbler vehicles. Whether any of those will come to the U.S. is another unanswered question..

$169,000

For a model that comes from a brand whose name literally translates to "people's car", the Volkswagen XL1's starting price of £98,515 OTR (equal to $169,000 or €123,500) in Britain sounds more of the elitist kind.

To put into perspective, with the same amount of money, you can by the pure electric Nissan Leaf (£16,490), the Toyota Prius Hybrid (£21,995) and just for fun, a Porsche Cayman GTS (£55,397), and still have £4,633 to spare.

But that's what you get for a super limited production model with cutting edge technology of which only 200 examples will be made.

At least you'll be saving on fuel as the XL1 uses just 0.9 liters of diesel per 100 km, or 313.9 mpg UK / 261.3 mpg US on the official combined cycle, correlating to an extremely low carbon dioxide emissions value of just 21 g/km.

The XL1's hybrid powertrain comprises a 0.8-liter two-cylinder diesel unit producing 57hp (48PS) and a 27hp (27PS) electric motor paired to a lithium-ion battery, driving through a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission.

According to VW, "with a drag coefficient of 0.189, the XL1 can maintain 100 km/h [62mph] on a level road in still air using just 8.4PS [8.3hp]".

Other highlights of the two-seater include the CFRP monocoque and outer skin that allow for a curb weight of just 795 kg (1,752 lbs) and the small cameras that replace exterior mirrors transmitting images to an interior display.

VW has hinted at the production of a sportier version of the XL1, possibly named the XLR and powered by a two-cylinder petrol engine from the Ducati 1199 Panigale superbike.