REPORT: Audi version of Volkswagen Bluesport in the works
It should come as no surprise that Audi is working on its own version of the Volkswagen Concept Bluesport, and according to Automotive News, the design has already been completed.
In the lead-up to the Bluesport's unveiling, rumors (and simple logic) said that in order for Volkswagen to make the mid-engine roadster financial viable, the platform and all its associated underpinnings would have to be distributed across several models. A senior VW group exec told AN, "To make a strong business case for the new roadster, we need to share the investment with at least three brands." In addition to VW, one of those brands is Audi and the other is almost assuredly Porsche.
While Skoda and Seat's budget-oriented image couldn't include a variant of the roadster – estimated to cost around €30,000 – Porsche might be interested in an entry-level model to slot in below the Boxster and help to reduce the automaker's overall CO2 emissions.
Volkswagen is expected to announce a production decision on the Concept Bluesport in the next two months, and we're hoping that the completed version will bow in Geneva.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
P.V. 10:14AM (1/19/2009)
Honestly, this makes more sense, but I would only like to see one version of this (I don't want to see any more overlap between VW and Audi: Phaeton/A8, CC/A6 (sort of), Touareg/Q7, Tiguan/Q5 (sort of)). If I was to only see one version, it should be under Audi only; VW should stick to premium economy cars, not luxury roadsters.
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James 11:00AM (1/19/2009)
Nice design for a mid-engine Audi drop top version of the Concept Bluesport...albeit the front fenders look like a "slap-on/afterthought" and don't blend pretty well with the smooth flowing rear...
Hope both VW and Audi/Porsche versions make it to the Chattanooga assembly line...
zamafir 12:03PM (1/19/2009)
Well if you don't want to see anymore overlap then you'll need to stick your head in the sand for the rest of your life. There's a reason VW and Audi are riding out the slowdown so far, and audi continued to post uninterrupted growth for 13 straight months into December, it's VAGs ability to realize cost savings by sharing platforms and parts, and it's one of the key ways they will continue to do better than many of their competitors as the slow down continues.
Pursuant to the notion of an Audi car on the Bluesport, well, we've been hearing rumblings of that since the first R4 rumors surfaced over a year ago, so I'd say it's a go.
P.V. 12:23PM (1/19/2009)
@zamafir:
Overlap and platform-sharing aren't the same. For example, while the Acura TL is based off of the Honda Accord, the Honda Accord competes against other midsize economy sedans and is priced accordingly, while the Acura TL competes against other entry-level luxury sedans and is priced accordingly.
On the other hand, not only do the Touareg and Q7 share the same platform, they share similar price levels, so they end up competing against each other (although the analogy isn't as good as Phaeton vs. A8: these two cars were almost identical in every way (including price) except for sheetmetal and badge).
I'm not concerned about platform-sharing. I AM concerned about real market overlap.
JZeke 12:47PM (1/19/2009)
Actually the A8 are completely different under the sheet metal - The Audi uses an aluminum space frame and weighs about 1000lbs less than the Phaeton. That platform has not spread to other areas of VAG. The Phaeton however did share its platform with the Bentley Continental GT.. little overlap there.
jc 10:21AM (1/19/2009)
Gee .What a suprise.Since Audi is an upmarket VW.
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JZeke 10:41AM (1/19/2009)
If they must pursue 3 brands for one platform to amortize cost, I would suggest they don't follow the GM strategy of brand-rebodies.
What would be far more compelling is a holistic strategy whereby the VW gets a minimal manual drop top and a spartan interior. The Audi gets a Miata-esque compact folding hardtop and a litany of (useless) luxuries and the Porsche becomes a baby Cayman with a fixed-roof.
With the premium Porsche is able to charge for fixed roof variants the cost structure would likely not overlap very much, and drivers would be rewarded with 3 completely different machines.
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JPA914 10:50AM (1/19/2009)
Sounds like great product strategy, or, in honor of our outgoing US President, "strategery", to me.
zamafir 12:06PM (1/19/2009)
"I would suggest they don't follow the GM strategy of brand-rebodies."
Given how successfully VW has managed to keep the allure of Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, and Audi in tact while realizing cost savings, I doubt we'll see a GM approach. VW actually does this right and their sales and growth have reinforced this notion. Basically they do what Mercedes aped from VW with chrysler, VW typically received an older platform while Audi stayed a generation ahead. With the new modular platform they're working on, VW has a very simple and judging by Audi's growth, very effective formula of limiting engines in the VW line and providing even better interiors in the Audi line (take the 3.0TDI for example, vw gets it in the t-reg in north America, Audi will slot it in the A4, A5, A6, Q5, Q7). VW's been doing this for a very long time, they'll be fine.
Ian 10:45AM (1/19/2009)
Well, a TT is a golf/jetta/beetle already. Why wouldn't they share the platform? It would be stupid not to. That doesn't mean they'll be ANYTHING alike. In fact, if they were smart, they'd nix the current TT and make this the new TT. Mid engine, RWD would make the TT a really really nice sports car, no convertible. Leave the convertible to VW.
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JPA914 10:54AM (1/19/2009)
Oh, and the Audi is obviously called R4 and the Prorsche; Chameleon. Sign me up for the Porsche.
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Jimbo 11:24AM (1/19/2009)
If Porsche can make the Boxster/Cayman financially viable and Mazda can make the MX-5 financially viable, there's no reason VW can't make the BlueSport financially viable under just one brand. Although it would fit better as an Audi.
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Jim 12:15PM (1/19/2009)
Audi / VW needs to produce this car! I don't like the Audi version with its front fender, I would like to get the VW version so I can use Audi's parts.
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Mazda FTW! 1:17PM (1/19/2009)
VW needs this more in their lineup than Audi does.
Fun cars -
Audi - R8, TT-S, S5, S6
VW - GTI
This car would only compete with the TT drop-top.
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BoxerFanatic 1:24PM (1/19/2009)
This would make perfect sense, and instantly it triggers the name "R4" in my head.
But I would mention this...
CANCEL the TT. It is far too expensive for a FWD 2+2 that is essentially a Coupe of an A3, or an Audi-fied Golf/Rabbit/Beetle.
Make this R4 into a real sports car, 2 seats, coupe and convertible with gas or diesel engine, and BlueSport VW diesel convertible down market from the Audi.
The Audi itself should be down market from the Boxster and Cayman.
Transverse RWD is a bit different and less expensive to do, with an inline and doubled-back transverse transaxle, like DCT. (PDK being the longitudinal gearset, lateral drive variant, a similar arrangement to Nissan GT-R and other gearboxes that line up on the car's centerline.)
A Boxer engine and longitudinal layout, with more horsepower (even more if Porsche would up the Boxter and Cayman to Carrera 2's engine, or even the S-model 3.8...) would keep Boxster and Cayman up-market and advantageous above this VW and Audi.
Personally, I don't think there needs to be a Porsche variant of the transverse cars. Porsche has badged Audis and VWs before... I am not sure they need to dilute their brand image again, with nearly duplicated, down market products.
Personally, I think it would be better if they came out with a successor to the Carrera GT, but not quite so stratospheric, up around 997 Turbo and GT2 sort of money, that is mid-engined and powered either by the Turbo boxer from the GT2, or the Turbo V8 from the Panamera/Cayenne.
And make it a coupe this time... the truncated roof on the Carrera GT was a little less than graceful, although the rest of the design was "like buttah" as a Mike Myers character would say... :D
But I think, as a transverse Mid-engined car, or even very slightly rear-engined, like the Artega GT (transaxle on the forward side of the engine, rather than the aft side of the engine, but engine is still vertically oriented, very close to the axle line, not leveraging off the rear of the car as much) enough to have a 2+2 coupe.
But Audi and VW seem to be the place for that. And I would consider them, if there is an option for a screamer of a gasoline engine, especially DFI turbo.
The BlueSport is an Audi badge and LED headlight array away from an Audi design anyway.
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:40PM (1/19/2009)
Of course. VW are major platform engineers. You'll see a VW and Audi version, probably a SEAT and maybe even a Porsche.
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HeyHuub 4:22AM (1/20/2009)
Well, atleast they do it better then say GM.
Torrent 6:10PM (1/19/2009)
That photoshop looks great, but I don't think Audi needs this. Great as a concept, but let VW have something unique for once.
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