Monday 19th January 2009

Blue Skies Ahead for Bluesport

VW's sports car concept comes a step closer to reality

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The Volkswagen Bluesport concept revealed at the Detroit auto show looks increasingly likely to be bound for full-scale production, and could be on dealer forecourts in 2012.

VW development chief Ulrich Hackenberg sounded positive during an interview with German website and magazine Auto Motor und Sport, indicating that it is highly likely that the Bluesport will make the transition from concept to production car.

Hackenberg revealed that plans for packaging the new car are well-underway, suggesting that a wide range of VW drivetrains and powerplants will be available with the Bluesport, including the company's TSI engines and now-famous DSG dual-clutch transmission.

Hackenberg stated unequivocally that the diesel roadster is to be directly pitched against the Mazda MX-5, albeit bringing very different strengths to the table. He set a price estimate of between £20,000 - £22,000 depending on spec, making a basic Bluesport around the same price as a top-of-the-range MX-5 Roadster Coupe.

Of course, if VW want to tempt drivers away from the more traditional staples of this sector where fun is such an important factor, the Bluesport is going to have to be as good on the road as it sounds on paper.

 

[Nightshade]

Good, I think this car will be incredibly successful.

[kambites]

Nightshade said:

Good, I think this car will be incredibly successful.

As long as it drives well, yes.

[scotty_917]

Will there be Seat, Audi, Porsche spin-off versions? It would make sense from an economies of scale perspective!

Seat for volume.....Audi to compete with the Z4 / SLK......and an entry level Porsche...

[Wilburo]

I'm quite excited by this - perhaps it'll make Mazda up their game for the upcoming mk.iv MX-5.

[thewilfmeister]

Thats actually a really good looking car!!

and a diesal too! remap and away haha

[timewatch]

Is this another SKY CAR.....poor effort ?

re; parachute wing !

TW>>>

[massive1]

I hope they don’t dilute it as they did with the Iroc/Scirocco before production.
This thing looks great.

[wab172uk]

Nightshade said:

Good, I think this car will be incredibly successful.

Quite agree with you.

If they do put it into production, I might consider one myself.

[Mafioso]

Ah but what drivetrain will it have!? That's the question!

[MitchT]

Which paid of wheels will the engine be attached to?

[oagent]

2012 Audi TT

[carsnapper]

MitchT said:

Which paid of wheels will the engine be attached to?

It's VW....they only do boring FWD set-ups, or a no fun haldex all wheel drive jobby. I must be on my own here...but I think it looks awful! (really generic and bland and safe...all of which is what you want if you want to sell millions of them )

Edited by carsnapper on Monday 19th January 12:45

[bizniss]

carsnapper said:

MitchT said:

Which paid of wheels will the engine be attached to?

It's VW....they only do boring FWD set-ups, or a no fun haldex all wheel drive jobby. I must be on my own here...but I think it looks awful! (really generic and bland)

Edited by carsnapper on Monday 19th January 12:43

It's mid engined.

[carsnapper]

bizniss said:

carsnapper said:

MitchT said:

Which paid of wheels will the engine be attached to?

It's VW....they only do boring FWD set-ups, or a no fun haldex all wheel drive jobby. I must be on my own here...but I think it looks awful! (really generic and bland)

Edited by carsnapper on Monday 19th January 12:43

It's mid engined.

Yer, I read that on a former post. I just can't see VW producing a RWD diesel and I am convinced that they'll find a way to kill any fun one could have with a RWD chassis in the range.

[roland82]

Am I the only one that thinks 20k to 22k is a bit to much? With the Eos is there really a need for another car in this price range?

15k and I'll think about it.

[G60LJ]

I was just about to say the bonnet looks quite low, there's perhaps a fuel filler cap on the bonnet, and was hoping they're real air intakes on the sides.
New platform or old Boxster chassis?

[Ed.]

carsnapper said:

MitchT said:

Which paid of wheels will the engine be attached to?

It's VW....they only do boring FWD set-ups, or a no fun haldex all wheel drive jobby. I must be on my own here...but I think it looks awful! (really generic and bland)

Edited by carsnapper on Monday 19th January 12:43

I think it looks ok but would still prefer the mx5, competition may make Mazda bring turbo/supercharged version over though.

[mainaman]

MitchT said:

Which paid of wheels will the engine be attached to?

It's mid-engined roadster,the first affordable one since the MR2,the MG TF relic excluded.

I wouldn't be interested in a diesel car,but here the heavy diesel engine sits in the middle and in this age of huge proportions the car looks refreshingly small.

Will it retain the concept's good looks and be good to drive?Fingers crossed

[sprinter885]

G60LJ said:

I was just about to say the bonnet looks quite low, there's perhaps a fuel filler cap on the bonnet, and was hoping they're real air intakes on the sides.
New platform or old Boxster chassis?

I was thinking it has elements of MX 5 about it on an Audi TT platform ..maybe?

[BelperJim]

I'm sure a RWD, Petrol and Manual version would be very succesfull.