DailyTech – VW Teases with 55 MPG Turbodiesel Bluesport Roadster — At least one company is thinking “cool” rather than thinking about how to save the planet.
VW is looking to change that perception today with the unveiling of the Bluesport concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The Bluesport bucks the trend of most concept vehicles unveiled at auto shows and is near production ready — in fact, the mid-engine roadster is said to share the same platform with an upcoming “budget” Porsche model which is said to recall back to the 914.
The mid-engine Bluesport roadster is RWD instead of the FWD configuration found in most current VW models available in the U.S. Not surprisingly, VW dug way down into the parts bin to secure the magnificent dual-clutch six-speed transmission which can be had in the aforementioned GTI.
EAT SOOT! So will CARB allow this be be driven in California?
This is what happens when Porsche buys VW…
Yahoo!
How is this not just a 10 year old Audi TT with some new body panels, no AWD, and a new engine?
This is the perfect marriage of the wrong engine to the wrong car. Unless that is they are aiming for the faux-environmentalist female school teacher demo.
I doubt that even in Europe this car will do well…not until it has the hot engine from the GTI dropped in it.
Unless that is they are aiming for the faux-environmentalist female school teacher demo.
Isn’t that VW’s only demo?
I agree, this is just a remake of an Audi TT.
Sheesh. Think what VW might have done if it had gone for better fuel efficiency.
I think we’re going to see more of automakers doing everything they can to avoid delevoping the inevitable all electric car models. Including playing “Lego Build It” games with all of their existing hardware and designs. They all probably have decades of gasoline burning technology, gathering dust on their shelves. Waiting for the right time to be brought to the forefront. The next 20 years will probably be a carnival such untried ideas, and concepts. All marketed to keep us distracted from the best solution. The elimination of almost all gasoline burning engines. Along with most of the petroleum derived lubricates and tranmission fluids they require. Except for tire rubber, wiring insulation, and a bit of bearing grease, electric cars use virtual none of crude oil’s refined products. And that’s got to be making the automakers very nervous. As they count on selling this stuff, after market. Plus their board members probably all have big investments in big oil. So the last thing they want to see are consumers flocking to technology that uses almost none of what they count on for their long term profits. That’s also why major oil companies have been buying up interests in battery technology. So they won’t loose out, by keeping their production as expensive, and under control, as crude oil refinement.
#1, today’s VW diesels don’t emit soot. At least, not that you can see. I’ve driven one (not this car) and unless someone tells you, the only clue that it’s a diesel is the growl at take off in first gear. I think it was a Jetta, and I drive from Pitt to Harrisburg, ~55 mpg and that’s hilly roads. Cool vehicle.
I hadn’t realized that being “cool” instead of “bright” was important outside of Kansas City soda fountains.
Reminds me of a 1958 MG MGA Roadster Convertible. Does the VW have a push-button starter motor?
Finally,they are starting to get it.
Diesels,especially Blue-tech ones will rule the day yet.
When Audi won back to back Championships with the R-10 I was delighted and nostalgic.
Diesels may ease the transition into alt.fuel hybrids with their proven track record powering Locomotives and Scandinavian Mass transit.
For example a dutch Bus gets 13-15 MPG while an American bus gets 4-5 MPG.
The perceptions of the Public will not change in any major way until We get the Petro-Corps
out of Our Governments,Our Universities,Our car Manufactures and Our living rooms.
Very cool… once my 2000 GTI mothballs I’m getting it.
#9 Да! I’m with you!
Looks nice, if a little bit of a hairdressers car.
#1 Bill, you know that VW has owned Porsche for quite some time now.
# 4 Glenn E. said, “I think we’re going to see more of automakers doing everything they can to avoid delevoping the inevitable all electric car models.”
Avoid? Too funny, and, uninformed.
There is a little hurdle called electricity storage to overcome 1st. At least if you want a viable replacement for the current fossil fuel cars…
1. What do you really think the chances are of this passing all the smog regulations in CA, for instance???
2. It is STILL an oil driven vehicle, so the oil companies are still going to be squashing electric cars.
3. Diesel is now the HIGHEST priced fuel. Can you say “TEN DOLLARS A GALLON”?
4. The VW diesel mini pickup, made twenty years ago, got 50 miles per gallon. The oil industry killed it, and CA outlawed it.
If it is reasonably priced, I’ll buy one in an instant!
The VW diesel, like the BMW and the Mercedes, passes all current and future EPA regulations in all 50 states. Diesels of today are nothing like diesels of even 5 years ago…
Tom
My wife wants one. We have a few contemporary diesels in the family – so, no ignorant wimpery here.
Naw, that’s a Porche with a VW logo.
Porsche and VW have been linked from the beginning.
The diesel engine was invented so many long years ago one could suppose something better had come along…
Mark my word, we’ll see coal powered cars in the near future.
The Japanese will crush the US and Europe. Why? Because they’re being smart regarding cars. It’s all politics, but theirs is better than ours.
BTW, Rudolf Diesel’s engine demonstrator at the 1900 world’s fair ran on peanut oil.