A turbodiesel roadster? Cool...
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From: Fairfax Station, VA. Formally Long Island :(
A turbodiesel roadster? Cool...
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=18912
VW BlueSport Roadster Concept
AutoExpress rendering of what the production BlueSport might look like (Source: AutoExpress) AutoExpress claims that the VW has given the green light to the BlueSport
About a year and a half ago, DailyTech brought you news of Volkswagen's attractive two-seat roadster concept called the BlueSport. While tiny roadster concepts are practically a dime a dozen, this particular one drew the interest of many due to its use of a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine producing 180 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.
AutoExpress is now reporting that the tiny BlueSport has been given the go ahead for production. The BlueSport carries the tight, creased design language seen on current VW models and will feature a manual canvas top. The canvas top should help to keep weight down; competitors such as the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK employ heavy, complex folding hardtop mechanisms.
The BlueSport will retain the mid-engine layout of the concept and will feature twin luggage compartments -- one in the front and one in the rear -- like the Porsche Boxster.
When it comes to the powertrain, AutoExpress says that the sexy roadster will be available with the aforementioned 2.0-liter turbodiesel (producing 178 hp in production form), a 1.4-liter TFSI gasoline engine, and the familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine used in various VW and Audi models. Manual and dual-clutch six-speed transmissions will be available.
The 2,650-pound vehicle is expected to shoot to 60 mph in around six seconds and offer combined fuel economy of around 45 mpg with the diesel powertrain.
There is still no word on if the BlueSport will make it over here to the United States, but there has to be an alternative to the somewhat dreadful Honda CR-Z when it comes to small "green" sports cars.
I would drive one of these. 45 MPG ain't too shabby.
VW BlueSport Roadster Concept
AutoExpress rendering of what the production BlueSport might look like (Source: AutoExpress) AutoExpress claims that the VW has given the green light to the BlueSport
About a year and a half ago, DailyTech brought you news of Volkswagen's attractive two-seat roadster concept called the BlueSport. While tiny roadster concepts are practically a dime a dozen, this particular one drew the interest of many due to its use of a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine producing 180 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.
AutoExpress is now reporting that the tiny BlueSport has been given the go ahead for production. The BlueSport carries the tight, creased design language seen on current VW models and will feature a manual canvas top. The canvas top should help to keep weight down; competitors such as the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK employ heavy, complex folding hardtop mechanisms.
The BlueSport will retain the mid-engine layout of the concept and will feature twin luggage compartments -- one in the front and one in the rear -- like the Porsche Boxster.
When it comes to the powertrain, AutoExpress says that the sexy roadster will be available with the aforementioned 2.0-liter turbodiesel (producing 178 hp in production form), a 1.4-liter TFSI gasoline engine, and the familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine used in various VW and Audi models. Manual and dual-clutch six-speed transmissions will be available.
The 2,650-pound vehicle is expected to shoot to 60 mph in around six seconds and offer combined fuel economy of around 45 mpg with the diesel powertrain.
There is still no word on if the BlueSport will make it over here to the United States, but there has to be an alternative to the somewhat dreadful Honda CR-Z when it comes to small "green" sports cars.
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I expect the price tag on this to be significant. With all the other options out there today, why would someone want a 178hp roadster???
And if someone says "because you can easily mod it blah blah blah".. a 2.0 turbo isn't going to stand up to the big boys. Also, the 45mpg would be GONE.
EDIT: Plus, diesels sound horrible IMO.
And if someone says "because you can easily mod it blah blah blah".. a 2.0 turbo isn't going to stand up to the big boys. Also, the 45mpg would be GONE.
EDIT: Plus, diesels sound horrible IMO.
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I don't understand the appeal of a sporty roadster if it doesn't make great sounds. This looks good on paper, but I think it ends there. Even NA 4-cylinder gas engines (try a non-GXP Solstice) sound better than diesels.
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My dad's been driving a TDI 5spd Jetta that he got in recently, and I got to drive it the other day. Honestly, it was kinda fun to drive. A 45mpg TDI roadster with usable trunk space should sell. I'd be interested.
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Pretty much all modern roadsters sound crappy because of their 4-cylinder engines, so I don't think having a diesel makes much of a difference in that category. Even the GXP Solstice sounds crappy along with the Honda S2000. No roadster is going to sound like a vintage Cobra. Basically, if one is going to buy a roadster and one of their main concerns is sound, they should reconsider and look in a different class.
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Pretty much all modern roadsters sound crappy because of their 4-cylinder engines, so I don't think having a diesel makes much of a difference in that category. Even the GXP Solstice sounds crappy along with the Honda S2000. No roadster is going to sound like a vintage Cobra. Basically, if one is going to buy a roadster and one of their main concerns is sound, they should reconsider and look in a different class.
All of the cars you mentioned still sound better than a diesel.
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It wouldn't make a difference to me whether the car is a 4-banger diesel or gasoline engine. They will all sound like garbage. What other 2560 lb roadsters are available on the market with an available V8? I only ask about the V8 because V6 engines don't sound so great either.
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It wouldn't make a difference to me whether the car is a 4-banger diesel or gasoline engine. They will all sound like garbage. What other 2560 lb roadsters are available on the market with an available V8? I only ask about the V8 because V6 engines don't sound so great either.
V6 doesn't sound good? Go drive a Porsche Boxster and come back and say that.
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When did weight become part of this conversation? Low weight is good -- don't get me wrong -- but a 3200lb Corvette convertible is about eleventybillion times more desirable to me than a a 2600-lb four-banger roadster.
V6 doesn't sound good? Go drive a Porsche Boxster and come back and say that.
V6 doesn't sound good? Go drive a Porsche Boxster and come back and say that.
As for the Porsche 6 cylinder sounding good I agree! But it's a flat 6 not a v6. I've never heard a V6 that comes close to the sound of a flat 6! It's like the Subaru flat 4 that sounds waaayyyyy meaner than any inline 4.
I think a diesel roadster is a good idea because it's getting away from that hybrid crap which lots of people in the general public are eating up. Diesel is the way!.......But if I want to go fast give me a front engine V8,rear drive, 6 speeds and a real clutch!!