VH_Supra26
05-19-2009, 09:48 AM
by Alex Kaufmann
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/o/volkwsagen_bluesport_concept_main_630-0519-630x360.jpg
Click on photo above to view gallery (http://www.motorauthority.com/gallery/2009-volkswagen-bluesport-roadster-concept/2009-volkswagen-bluesport-roadster-concept-001.html)
Plans to send a hot new roadster throughout the VW Group are drying up
When it first appeared in Detroit this January the Bluesport roadster stirred talk of the revival of the roadster segment, and especially the Porsche 914 and 356. Unfortunately, the Porsche's rebirth was ruled out last week, and this week, Volkswagen has revealed it, too, might not be building a new sporty roadster based on the concept.
The news comes from VW's communications manager Christian Haacke at the launcnh of the new 2010 Polo, reports Drive. "The state we are at right now regarding Concept Bluesport is we are carefully calculating how to earn money with a niche car,' said Haacke. "It is a niche product and especially in crisis times like this it will be a challenge to come up with a volume we could require to earn money with it."
Fans of the idea and the concept won't be pleased to hear it, but Haacke is speaking the generally accepted wisdom of the times. The dire lessons being demonstrated so painfully in Detroit and Washington aren't lost on the rest of the world.
Still, Haacke is hopefully that the roadster may yet see the light of day once the economy pulls out of its tailspin. "The idea of a small two-seater sport car has been around for a really long time and I hope that the concept Bluesport will finally make it through the calculators," he said.
The Bluesport roadster concept was not just a sporty two-seater - it had real eco-cred as well. Powered by a 2.0L four-pot turbodiesel, it cranked out 180hp (134kW) and a doubtless grin-inducing 260lb-ft (352Nm) of torque, nipping to 60mph in 6.2 seconds, all while managing 35mpg in the combined cycle.
All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority
http://www.motorauthority.com/volkswagen-roadster-on-the-bubble-due-to-weak-market.html
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/o/volkwsagen_bluesport_concept_main_630-0519-630x360.jpg
Click on photo above to view gallery (http://www.motorauthority.com/gallery/2009-volkswagen-bluesport-roadster-concept/2009-volkswagen-bluesport-roadster-concept-001.html)
Plans to send a hot new roadster throughout the VW Group are drying up
When it first appeared in Detroit this January the Bluesport roadster stirred talk of the revival of the roadster segment, and especially the Porsche 914 and 356. Unfortunately, the Porsche's rebirth was ruled out last week, and this week, Volkswagen has revealed it, too, might not be building a new sporty roadster based on the concept.
The news comes from VW's communications manager Christian Haacke at the launcnh of the new 2010 Polo, reports Drive. "The state we are at right now regarding Concept Bluesport is we are carefully calculating how to earn money with a niche car,' said Haacke. "It is a niche product and especially in crisis times like this it will be a challenge to come up with a volume we could require to earn money with it."
Fans of the idea and the concept won't be pleased to hear it, but Haacke is speaking the generally accepted wisdom of the times. The dire lessons being demonstrated so painfully in Detroit and Washington aren't lost on the rest of the world.
Still, Haacke is hopefully that the roadster may yet see the light of day once the economy pulls out of its tailspin. "The idea of a small two-seater sport car has been around for a really long time and I hope that the concept Bluesport will finally make it through the calculators," he said.
The Bluesport roadster concept was not just a sporty two-seater - it had real eco-cred as well. Powered by a 2.0L four-pot turbodiesel, it cranked out 180hp (134kW) and a doubtless grin-inducing 260lb-ft (352Nm) of torque, nipping to 60mph in 6.2 seconds, all while managing 35mpg in the combined cycle.
All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority
http://www.motorauthority.com/volkswagen-roadster-on-the-bubble-due-to-weak-market.html