Volkswagen first toyed with the idea of reviving a small, mid-engine roadster with its cleanly styled ConceptR for the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. While the car garnered mostly positive reaction, it ultimately failed to make the production line. Two years later at the Tokyo Motor Show, another roadster concept, called the EcoRacer, was shown by Wolfsburg, once again stirring hopes that VW would eventually build a fuel efficient and agile sports car for the masses.
Now comes the Volkswagen BlueSport, and enthusiasts everywhere are hoping the third time will finally be the production charm. Volkswagen has combined what it's learned with the previous show cars. Priority No. 1 with this prototype: provide maximum driving fun with minimal fuel consumption. Of course, that's easier said than done.
To accomplish its mission of building an affordable, economical and agile two-seat roadster, designers first began with the chassis and utilized aluminum for the frame and body panels to reduce weight. They then placed behind the two passengers a version of Volkswagen's 2.0L TDI turbocharged four-cylinder diesel producing an impressive 178-hp @ 4200 rpm and 258 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm - more than enough power and torque to scoot the 2640-lb BlueSport to 60 mph in a claimed 6.2 sec before hitting its 140 mph top speed.
Mated to the oil burning engine is VW's paddle-controlled six-speed DSG that bumps up fuel efficiency and quickly delegates power to the rear wheels. Together with common rail injection and a downstream NOx storage catalytic converter, the BlueSport attains a claimed combined fuel rating of 42 mpg (50 mpg highway/35 mpg city). Playing a large part in the car's economy is also an 'Eco mode' function with auto start-stop technology and regenerative braking. For those unfamiliar with start-stop technology, in essence, the engine automatically shuts off when coming to a stop and almost instantly starts up again once the accelerator is depressed. Regenerative braking, on the other hand, uses the car's slowing inertia to create additional energy for its on-board systems.
With an efficient engine in place mid-ship, engineers focused their efforts on putting the sports car's power to the tarmac as best they could. After all, power is nothing without control, as the tagline for a certain tire company goes. Helping out in the twisties are the concept's pocket-sized dimensions: 157.1-in. length; 68.9-in. width; 49.6-in. height; 95.7-in. wheelbase. In comparison, the BlueSport is shorter and 'flatter' than the newly released Scirocco, but longer and wider than the ultra-compact Polo. Aiding as well with handling are large (for this car) 10-spoke 19-in wheels, which also serve as major styling queues from all points of view.
Under the watchful eye of Volkswagen Group head of design Walter de Silva, the BlueSport wears several contemporary VW styling elements. Designed by VW brand lead designer Klaus Bischoff and team, the compact car is low and wide; a characteristic accentuated greatly by each corner's flared fenders located above the circular wheel housings.
Up front, a narrow radiator grille is completed by the distinct horizontal cross beams with central VW logo. On either side of the grille rest newly designed bi-xenon headlamps with Audi-like integrated C-shaped LED daytime running lights. The use of LEDs continues below the grille with highly visible turn signals imbedded into the large air intakes. In true mid-engine fashion, bold lateral air intakes flank the Flex silver colored car and direct cool air to the turbocharged powerplant.
Out back, exhaust is expelled through a dual tailpipe setup positioned widely on the outer edges of the bumper. Interestingly, the rear tail lamps have been shaped in the same style as their counterparts up front and also incorporate bright C-shaped LEDs. A rear diffuser generating better airflow culminates the rear styling. The complete exterior package, according to designer Flavio Manzoni, achieves "aesthetic clarity without compromise."
Open either door and the productivity and ingenuity continue. Key to the interior is the central touchscreen system that's modeled after the Up! concept's console. The screen controls all entertainment and information functions and can be additionally accessed via steering wheel buttons. Climate control duties are delegated by three prominent dials above the screen and change color depending on the desired temperature. Say for instance a passenger wants hot air blasting while cruising with the folding soft top down, the dial will turn red. For streams of cold air, they'll turn blue. Leather trimmed buckets keep passengers comfortably in place whenever the spirited driving begins.
Although simply another concept to add to the books, Volkswagen's BlueSport certainly seems to be the most producible of the three small sports cars it's rolled out in the past six years. So much so that it makes us wonder if sister brands Audi and Porsche will drum up their own small sports cars sometime in the near future -- say, in the form of a baby R4 or revived 914, respectively.
If in fact the BlueSport is given the greenlight, expect it to hit showrooms no earlier than 2011. For the time being, though, the concept car will have to quench all affordable mid-engine sports car desires.
[source:MotorTrend]
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