Speculated: Volkswagen's mid-engine future

Zach Bowman — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, Volkswagen, Rumormill

Fortitude has gone through the trouble of cutting through all of the rumors surrounding the future of mid-engined sports cars in the Volkswagen family. The site points to two different mid-engine platforms currently in development within the expansive Volkswagen ranks - one with a longitudinally-mounted engine layout and another with a transverse engine design. A number of models could make use of the side-saddle architecture, including the much-salivated-over Volkswagen BlueSport, though Fortitude says the chassis could also provide the bones for vehicles like a Porsche 914 or 356 successor as well as a new Audi racer that could sail under the R3 banner.

And what of that longitudinal design, you ask? This is where things get really fun. Fortitude says that the high-ups at Audi AG showed off a platform called the MSS on the hush-hush, and that the chassis could underpin everything from the next R8 to the Lamborghini Gallardo successor and the Porsche 918. It could even form the mold for whatever steps into the void left by the Murcielago.

Head over to Fortitude to get a closer look at the whole shebang, complete with excellent sketches of future models.

[Source: Fortitude]

Speculated: Volkswagen's mid-engine future originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Possible Volkswagen BlueSport coupe mule spotted

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Volkswagen

When Volkswagen unveiled its BlueSport concept in Detroit last January, the big question on people's mind was "When can we buy one?" If the most recent spy shots from the Nurburgring are any indication, it could be soon. A development mule based on a three door Golf MK VI has been spotted circulating with what looks like a dislocated rear axle.

It's not uncommon to see test mules using existing bodies with new hardware underneath, and it looks like this example has both a wider track and shorter wheelbase than the Golf, which could correspond to testing chassis bits for the BlueSport. It's not clear from this batch of photos whether this vehicle has the engine mounted up front or behind the front seats, and although there aren't any visible ducts or air intakes feeding an engine mounted amidships, that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Only time will tell if we get this high mileage diesel powered sports car, or more predictably, one using VAG's delectable turbocharged 2.0-liter.

[Source: NextAutos]

Spy Shots: Possible Volkswagen BlueSport coupe mule spotted originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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