VW's Beautiful BlueSport 42-MPG Roadster Is Coming

The automotive gods haven’t quite answered our prayers by bringing us the amazing BlueSport roadster, but they’ve given us reason to be hopeful. There are increasing signs that Volkswagen will build the 42-mpg diesel that wowed the crowd at the Detroit auto show. Greg Kable over at Autoweek got to drive the concept car, that […]

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The automotive gods haven't quite answered our prayers by bringing us the amazing BlueSport roadster, but they've given us reason to be hopeful. There are increasing signs that Volkswagen will build the 42-mpg diesel that wowed the crowd at the Detroit auto show.

Greg Kable over at Autoweek got to drive the concept car, that lucky SOB, and says VW has given the mid-engine sports car a development codename. Better yet, the car could be headed to America by 2013. As if that weren't enough to get gearheads in a lather, the car could as little as $30,000 and meet California emissions regs.

The concept unveiled in Detroit has a 2.0-liter common rail turbodiesel behind the seat that is good for 168 horsepower. Look for a zero-to-60 sprint of 6.6 seconds with the six-speed paddle-shifted dual-clutch gearbox. If that isn't quick enough for you, Kable says VW is considering other engines, including the 265-horsepower turbocharged gas engine slated for the Scirocco R. "Can you say junior Boxster?" he writes.

Why yes. Yes we can.

Kable peeled off 50 miles in the BlueSport and found it to be quick, nimble and a joy to drive. As we told you in January, the car is about the size of a Mazda Miata and shares the same "keep it simple, stupid" ethos. The concept was built from off-the-shelf components to cut costs, and it makes liberal use of aluminum to keep the weight down to 2,640 pounds. Although small, Kable said the cabin was comfy. He praised the car's handling, steering and brakes.

"This is an exciting car," he wrote. "Good to look at and fun to drive, it should be able to hold its head high on the dynamic front with cars costing twice its projected price."

All of this is contrary to a brief report Britain's Channel 4 ran last month when it quoted an unnamed VW official saying the BlueConcept had been shelved because of the lousy economy.

We've said it before. We'll say it again: VW, build this car.

Photo: VW. Loads more after the jump.

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