According to a report by drive.com.au, the German manufacturer is now considering discontinuing the project as it believes a roadster is not a proper way to tackle the economic recession.
"The state we are at right now regarding Concept Blue Sport is we are carefully calculating how to earn money with a niche car. It is a niche product and especially in crisis times like this it will be a challenge to come up with a volume we could require to earn money with it," VW AG Communications Manager Christian Haacke said this week in Australia according to the aforementioned source.
"So, Detroit as shown you that it easy to come out with a tempting concept but the second challenge about it is to earn money with it. That is what we are facing right now - internally of course - and I am sure we will let you know when we’ve advanced in the process of facing the second challenge, of finishing it."
Nevertheless, the Volkswagen BlueSport concept was sharing the attributed of a highly successful car. It was equipped with a 2.0-liter engine that developed 132 kW (177 horsepower) and 350 Nm of torque. Mated to a six-speed twin-clutch transmission, the powerplant achieved a fuel consumption rating of 4.3 l/100km (54.7 mpg) and featured several fuel consumption reduction technologies, such as start-stop systems.
In terms of performance figures, the concept was able of reaching 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and topped at 226 km/h (140.4 mph).
"With our nine brands I think we have an excellent starting situation to reach this zone of earning money also with a niche product like that. Personally I’d be more than looking forward to welcoming you all to a presentation of a car like that especially since there is nobody else with a mid-engined sports car in the price range like that," Haacke added.
"The idea of a small two-seater sport car has been around for a really long time and I hope that the concept Blue Sport will finally make it through the calculators."
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