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 Concept 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.
Now comes the Concept 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. - MotorTrend.com
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