Volkswagen Bluesport Roadster Not Dead Yet

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Even though it’s been revived more times than Pete Doherty, the Volkswagen Bluesport roadster is apparently back on track at the insistence of Uli Hackenberg, VW’s chief engineer.

Hackenberg feels that the upcoming Toyobaru twins and the Mazda MX-5 will fuel demand for more sports cars on the lower end of the market. While dealers felt that the market was too small to justify the Bluesport, Hackenberg feels that the demand has been artifically supressed due to a lack of options.

If Volkswagen does go ahead with the project, expect Audi or another subsidiary (SEAT? Skoda?) to market their own sports car using the platform. The big question is whether Porsche will go back on its word and create its own version, or cede the lower tier to its downmarket cousins.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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 6 comments
  • W.Minter W.Minter on Feb 01, 2012

    It's VW's default tactics ... watch the competion (Mini Coupé, Toyobaru, MX-5) carefully, decide after 4 years. They did that with Touran, Tiguan, Up etc.

    • Jeffzekas Jeffzekas on Feb 02, 2012

      and also part of that strategy: release two versions... a VW version and a Porsche version...

  • RetroGrouch RetroGrouch on Feb 01, 2012

    A low cost roadster with the maintenance costs and reliability of an Audi S8? I will take 3.

    • Kendahl Kendahl on Feb 01, 2012

      Is that one on the road, one in the shop, and one in the garage in case the one on the road dies before the one in the shop is fixed?

  • Ellomdian Ellomdian on Feb 01, 2012

    I feel like VW and especially whoever platform badges the higher end one of these is just going to miss the boat. If it takes them 3 years to put metal in showrooms, the niche for cheap fun will likely have been filled. If markets continue to stabilize (and I don't want to get into that argument in this forum) it's going to be hard to sell another Miata, especially when your brand and heritage has more of the moneyed whiff to it.

  • Chicago Dude Chicago Dude on Feb 01, 2012

    Derek, I disagree. Cars like these are dead until proven to be alive. Niche vehicles, diesel motors in the USA, etc.

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