VW Bluesport concept (2009) CAR review

Since its launch 20 years ago the Mazda MX-5 has effectively ruled a class of one, but, finally, two decades on, it may have a challenger. At the start of 2009 at the Detroit motor show, VW unveiled the Bluesport concept, a two-seat mid-engined roadster that’s scheduled to go on sale in early 2012 for around £20k.

What's more, the concept was much more the a show car with shoddy fibreglass panels and a meagre motor - it's so well sorted that the Bluesport drives more like an early prototype than a £1.5m one-off. CAR has just driven it, so read on to find out what the Bluesport is like.

£20k? That's pretty cheap - has VW raided the corporate parts bin to create the Bluesport?

Yes, but there's nothing wrong with Golf bits and pieces. So the engines and transmissions will come from existing models, the chassis gives us a glimpse of the forthcoming MQB platform with the front axle from the next Polo, and the multi-link rear is from the Golf. The concept also uses Polo parts for the steering, and old Golf R32's brakes.

What's in this Bluesport name?

Think of it as a sporting version of VW's Bluemotion vehicles, so there's a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 178bhp, and an Eco mode that activates a stop-start system and brake energy recuperation. The result, according to VW, is a 5% reduction in fuel consumption on the urban cycle. The overall figures are equally impressive: the Bluesport achieves 65.7mpg and 113g/km.

But open-top sports car are meant for driving, so if you hit the Sport button the six-speed ‘box will swap cogs faster, up-shift later and down-shift earlier. Plus the steering speeds up (and is wonderfully direct) and the throttle becomes more responsive.

>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our VW Bluesport concept first drive