WOLFSBURG / DETROIT – Volkswagen is starting the new year by presenting an automotive dream: an affordable, uncommonly economical and highly agile mid-engine roadster. Its name: Concept BlueSport. Status: concept. Dynamics: pure. Positioning: genuine, low-emissions roadster that makes every mile a driving experience. World premiere: Detroit, Jan. 11, 2009.
The Concept BlueSport is evolving into a car that is a lot of fun to drive and at the same time makes an unmistakable statement about sustainability. The fact is this: if the Concept BlueSport were to go into production, it could herald a renaissance of the compact roadster. Another fact: This car handles just as well in the urban environment of metropolises as it does on curvy country roads and long expressway routes.
Volkswagen defined just two objectives in the car’s development: maximum driving fun and minimal fuel consumption. And so a mid-engine sports car was implemented that makes no compromises and that aims at low weight and maximum agility right from the start. Although it is best in its class when it comes to body rigidity, the Concept BlueSport weighs in at less than 1,200 kilograms. The results: performance that is more than impressive for every situation in addition to the fuel economy and emissions advantages. Low weight was attained by consistent application of lightweight construction methods (among other things, the soft top – at 60 lbs – is the lightest in its class, and the hoods are made of aluminum), and by a body layout with crisp and compact dimensions.
Despite its sports car influences, it still offers a respectable level of everyday utility. With a fuel tank volume of 14 gallons and fuel economy of 42 mpg, the theoretical range is greater than 580 miles. Making a positive impact on the car’s range, fuel economy and emissions are two technologies that could become more and more commonplace in the future and are part of the Eco mode on the Concept BlueSport: an automatic start-stop system and braking energy regeneration. The place where automatic start-stop shines is in city traffic. When the Concept BlueSport stops at a traffic light, for example, it automatically shuts off its engine. As soon as the light turns green again, just tapping on the gas pedal is enough to start the engine. Furthermore, primarily when the Concept BlueSport is braked, energy is generated by the alternator (regeneration), which relieves the engine and further improves fuel economy.
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OK, so when will der volks make a TDI Tiguan or a TDI 4Motion Jetta Sportwagon for the U.S.?
when will this beauty be considered being put into production
I WAN THIS CAR!!!! when can we expect for it to be a production model (if it will be at all?)
Just a concept car for now…but I hope it’ll be in the market in three years when i’m ready to get a new ride : )
Just a concept car for now…but I hope it’ll be in the market in three years when I’m ready to switch my CC with a new ride : )
I hope they build this car and make it affordable.
Seriously, I would put money down to order this car today. VW, feel free to contact me when you make it available to order in the states. Until then I’ll continue sportin around in my tuned 2001 Jetta Wolfsburg. Still get 29mpg and can blow the doors off a lot of nicer cars.
Mark I’m loonikg forward to see if the new upcoming 2012 Volkswagen Passat will actually get the 31/43 fuel economy figures VW is estimating. If so because of an 18.5 gallon fuel tank it means this vehicle will be able to go 555 miles local errand running, which is two weeks of normal driving for the average consumer, and 795 miles on just one tank of fuel before needing to fill it up again on long distance trips. That’s farther than what over the road truck drivers are permitted to drive each day. I’d love to actually see a vehicle do 800 miles or more on one tank of fuel. There are big trucks on the road driven by owner operators that can do as much as 2250 miles on two fuel tanks which is a little over three days for a solo driver and just under two days for a pair of team drivers but if a car can reach 800 miles that would be very interesting and convenient. August 10 2011 at 2:54 AM rate up rate down
You are in slow motion! Think the world will wait? Get this car into production before it is obsolete (will be in one year from today). Plan on making it an electric car now and you might be in sequence with the world when you finally do it. Also, make it a hard top if you expect to sell it to more than 10 people.
respectfully disagree about the electric car. Electric technology has a long way to go before you can get 580 miles on one charge.
Nice!!! I would totally buy this car if it were of an affordable price. And please, make it a hard top.
JESUS! I want one so bad. I’m so happy the company I trust is making a roadster! That Eos…. no. I hope its safe and competitively priced!
Let me also add… is there ANY WAY YOU CAN MAKE THE PRODUCTION CAR AS SEXY AS THE CONCEPT? No one seems to get it right!
I am in. Black on Black with a 6 speed manual.
I’m in! Where do I sign up?
…IF it’s a TDI!
Now that is beautiful !!
I had been toying with the idea of an Audi TT, but this little beauty would definitely keep me in the VW camp. Please, oh please, put this one in production — like NOW!
they’ll never do it because i want it
I’ve heard rumors that production plans have been scrapped because it could result in cannibalization of TT and Boxster sales. I’ve also heard it’s because a sports car is the last thing you want to produce in a down economy. Either way, such a pity. It’s a solid, attractive concept that carries the mantra of the modern car. Maybe the powers that be will change their minds (please?), but with the weakening Euro, I’m not holding my breath.
I like your idea. The proelbm is that cars are made by one company andthat company can put resources to do stuff like that. Linuxdistributions are assembled by products of manycompanies/organizations/volounters. Thus, one Linux distribution can’tstear development of it’s components.But we can do something. For example, skip one Ubuntu version after a LTSversion. Let’s always create something even edgier than Edgy. We couldcall it TP or something like that. Unsupported. And then build upon ituntill next LTS 18 months should be enough for open source communityto test drive that car’ and make it usable. I think this would speed updevelopment, and what’s even more important, innovation.You have good observation on concept car it is much more aboutmarketing than about technology.
I would buy two of these. One for me and one for my girlfriend, in 6 speed manual and dsg of course. Finally something to compete with that little miata that dodge is so scared to compete against.
Really want to see Porsche resurrect the 914 on the same chassis! 2.0 TDI would be sweet, but a 20V 2.0 Boxer four would be amazing : )
I am waiting for this. Really waiting for this.
Come on! Put it into production.
This will be a forever classic for a long long time …
I like it all and good, but after seeing a new Scirocco in Japan I say bring the Scirocco back to America!!!!
i have been drooling over this car for a few years now. my dealership told me a long time ago “they’ll never make a tdi convertable” i want them to make it!! {since i can the downsize from the cabrio & tdi jetta)
Wish they would produce this car… I would trade my Jetta in in a second for this car…. Sigh… If we havent heard production plans by this time I’m betting they are not going to be producing it. And I really wanted this to be my next car
If God exists, he will direct VW to make this car available to me before I die.
Love my 03 GTI VR6. Only gripe is FWD. Othere than that, GREAT! My only problem will be to hold onto my GTI and buy the Bluesport outright, or trade in… Tough decision. I drive over 800 miles a week for my job and enjoy most of it. Not the stop and go so much, but with my Monsoon system and temperature control thermostat, not so bad. I hope they will make the Bluesport available in a hard top. Would prefer less noise with as much as I drive. A hatchback would be amazing. The TDI would be great but when I imagine this car with 256 hp… I would probably have to go that way since I don’t pay for my gas. I would probably still get around 30mpg? In my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen. Please bring this car late ’12 or asap.
Ok, saw the documentary fuel and I have to say I will go for the TDI and in the meantime, going to trade in for the Golf TDI. Going tomorrow actually. I will miss the extra speed but I really want to start supporting biodiesel. Found a bunch of biodiesel pumps and with all the driving I do, 800 plus miles per week, I feel I can have some good impact. I am sure the handling will still be great.
Nice looking car, not too sure about the soft top. It would look awesome if they had a hard top version and they need to give her some horses under that hood; start seriously competing with audi and bmw on a production level.
Currently driving an ’05 Toyota MR2 Spyder; the BlueSport is the first affordable car that I’ve seen that would convince me to give up the Spyder, but only if it’s a TDI! My wife’s current car is a Jetta Sportwagon TDI, and we love it. I’ve been waiting for this car since they announced it in 2009.
The other thing they should consider (apart from building it, of course!) is making it with a convertible hardtop; now that would be truly awesome.
VW is the only car company that could offer America a diesel roadster, because they are the only car company to have succeeded certifying a four-cylinder diesel in the new, clean-diesel era, but this concept is not a TDI.?
C’mon guys. You sell more 2.0 TDIs than all other diesel-powered choices combined and would sell more if you pushed them.
Every car company that offers diesels guessed Americans wanted high-performing diesel cars. VW threw in a frugal four cylinder just for kicks. All the high-performing six cylinders are dogs, and the frugal one is a big hit, and VW acts like they don’t even realize how they’ve struck gold in the US market with this 40 plus mpg powertrain with no sacrifices. If I were them, I would show off TDI frugality in every product I could. They’re the only one that has it!