Volkswagen is placing a bespoke rival for the Toyota Prius – revealed in our exclusive images – at the heart of radical plans to increase the amount of electrified vehicles in its line-up by 2020. The car could take the Volkswagen XL3 name.  

As it continues to suffer from ongoing criticism over its handling of the Dieselgate scandal, the manufacturer has decided to accelerate its investment in a set of all-electric and hybrid components. As part of this, it will extend its EV line-up to include a new standalone model to sit alongside the likes of the GTE-badged plug-in hybrid Passat and Golf and the all-electric Golfand up! in therange.

VW’s new electric platform is likely to be called MEB – although it’s expected to be largely compatible with MQB, allowing electric cars to built on the same lines as conventionally powered vehicles.

Sources in Germany suggest the Prius rival could get the XL3 badge. That would give it lineage with VW’s XL1 concept, a gruff but aerodynamic show car that achieved fuel consumption of less than one litre per 100 kilometres, or 283mpg.

Pictures: Autoexpress