VW RWD Elise Fighter!?

[exitspeed]

From Auto Blog:

Over the past five years, Volkswagen has continued to tease us with sports car concepts that never seem to come to fruition. Back in 2003, VW unveiled the Concept R in Frankfurt to critical acclaim and two years later, the wraps came off the EcoRacer, proving that the automaker was still kicking around the idea of a lightweight, affordable roadster for the masses.

In the interim, VW had two similar concepts that never left the studio, but when the Los Angeles Auto Show rolls along later this year, a new mid-engine coupe will be revealed, and this one actually has a shot at production.

According to Autocar, this newest concept aims to be a budget alternative to the Lotus Elise, balancing performance and fuel economy in a low-cost package. Sources suggest that the coupe will feature either a 168 hp, 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine or a 125 hp, 1.6-liter TDI mounted amidships and sending power to the rear wheels via a seven speed DSG gearbox. If and when the production version debuts in 2011, the coupe's curb weight is pegged at just over 2,200 pounds, allowing it to run to 60 in under seven seconds while still returning over 55 mpg.

If the project is given the green light, the same architecture that underpins the VW variant could form he basis for the oft-rumored and continually denied Audi R4. And with Porsche's stake in V-Dub, that means a 914 successor is just a badge and prayer away.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/01_vw_concept_r.jpg
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/03_vw_concept_r.jpg
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/06_vw_concept_r.jpg

[stiizy]

the front looks very saturnish??

eh

[azndoc]

Looks boring.

Very chick car like sportscar.

[S14DB]

Looks like a EOS and a Beetle Vert made woopie.

[murda-c]

Chrome dash in a vert may be the best idea anyone has ever had. Ever.

[exitspeed]

Looks boring.

Very chick car like sportscar.

Does VW make anything but?

[Agamemnon]

the interior makes me
http://www.joshuaray.com/myspace/schwing.jpg

[M4Rl0N]

Yea it does look like a girl sports car.
I kinda like it though.

[Antihero983]

and further proof why the only VW i will ever own is my 72 baja bug.

i have a bright yellow one, and i still feel less gay then i would driving that thing.

(or any new Audi or VW for that matter) :keke:

[Dutchmalmiss]

I'd love to see a revival of the 914 in the original irish green! :boink:

[allntrlundrgrnd]

eh. i kinda like the front. rest is kinda...unstimulating

[exitspeed]

And for the skeptics that don't think these kinda cars will work.

Sources suggest that the coupe will feature either a 168 hp, 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine or a 125 hp, 1.6-liter TDI mounted amidships and sending power to the rear wheels via a seven speed DSG gearbox. If and when the production version debuts in 2011, the coupe's curb weight is pegged at just over 2,200 pounds, allowing it to run to 60 in under seven seconds while still returning over 55 mpg.



^
That's the reason why they are making sense now.

[Dutchmalmiss]

And for the skeptics that don't think these kinda cars will work.



^
That's the reason why they are making sense now.

This is the kind of technology I've been waiting for; a lightweight chassis with a highly efficient motor. I'm assuming that it's the TDI configuration that'll be acheiving the 55mpg, so hats off to VW for that.

[B18C5MK1]

dont ever compare that to an elise again! *shakes head*
saturn maybe... elise? NEVER!

[exitspeed]

This is the kind of technology I've been waiting for; a lightweight chassis with a highly efficient motor. I'm assuming that it's the TDI configuration that'll be acheiving the 55mpg, so hats off to VW for that.

Me too. I'd really hope Nissan goes that route.

dont ever compare that to an elise again! *shakes head*
saturn maybe... elise? NEVER!

Don't shoot the messenger. That's what Autoblog said.

I agree with you. It's not an Elise fighter. More of a Miata fighter. Elise is in a different class all-together.

[B18C5MK1]

Me too. I'd really hope Nissan goes that route.



Don't shoot the messenger. That's what Autoblog said.

I agree with you. It's not an Elise fighter. More of a Miata fighter. Elise is in a different class all-together.

my apologies to the OP. :sadwavey:

[Quail]

Hmmm, I don't hate it, although it is clearly a feminine car

[exitspeed]

Hmmm, I don't hate it, although it is clearly a feminine car

Don't forget...so were our 240's...

[Bobafreak]

Alot of chrome. Possible death feature?

[murda-c]

i'm tellin you, you'd be ridin with the top down, with the sun reflecting perfectly off your instrument cluster into your eyes.

[DUFFM4N]

you guys are both stupid...its so you can tan while on the go..


dash + sun + top down = instant tanning booth

[ronmcdon]

concept is admirable, but I'm very skeptical VW will come out with a lightweight rwd car period, much less at a reasonable cost. however, cafe and rising fuel costs could give vw incentive to make their cars lighter. If anything, I think the closest were going to get to this concept is the overpriced fwd eos. Even if vw does deliver something true to this concept, there's a good chance it won't get to NA.

I have faith in vw when it comes to tdi technology, dsg trannies, and mpg (mk5 GTi gets 31mpg on the hwy). They certainly have the means to deliver something like this, but it's just not likely given how conservative they have been in recent yrs. I'll take this with a grain of salt.

Actually, I'll be satisfied if vw just to brings over a modest polo gti. or maybe they'll just make a convertible version of the polo platform, give it a facelift, and call it this.

[Future240]

Just not feeling the look of it. The 55 mpg is great though, I would love to see that technology applied to other vehicles.

[HyperTek]

its mid engine hence the articles references to the 914..

it looks decent and sounds on paper good.. They got to cater to the general market, not what a small group of old japanese car enthusiast lol. THe so called "its a girls car" look sells. Cant wait to see the final product. Get it in black, throw a lip kit on it and some meshes

It looks better then the new sirocco
http://www.sw-box.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/vw-scirocco1.jpg

THe sirocco would have been Money if they didnt give that ugly face

[LB.Motoring]

No one here will ever buy one, sorry mel waste of thread. :keke:

[S14DB]

Just not feeling the look of it. The 55 mpg is great though, I would love to see that technology applied to other vehicles.
It is. Wait till next year..... :coolugh:

[B18C5MK1]

It looks better then the new sirocco
http://www.sw-box.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/vw-scirocco1.jpg

THe sirocco would have been Money if they didnt give that ugly face

i actually love the new scirroco. :naughty:

[slidingsky]

I'm digging it... big time.

[MikeisNissan]

I like it, lets see one in black and change peoples perspective. And the new Scirocco is cool too!

[drift freaq]

Wow that Dash would be annoying in Socal LOL. Elise fighter? Has Autoblog taken temporary leave of their senses? Our cars are not nearly as Feminine as that rolling Skin Cancer machine.


Oh and that Scirroco locks like a disgusting bug. Something you try to smash before it multiplies.

[Baka Sama]

I like everything about it. Could use a little more power but over all a very nice car. Im sure all that chrome wont make it to production.