Autoweek: VW Concept R a go!

[Quiggs]

A VW sports car is a much better idea than a VW luxury car. Now just price it right.

Volkswagen’s stylish Concept R show car, named AutoWeek’s “Most Fun” car at last September’s Frankfurt motor show (AW, Sept. 22), is going into production.
The mid-engined roadster, conceived as a cut-price alternative to the Porsche Boxster, is slated for launch in late 2007 with the choice of either four or six-cylinder power, according to Wolfsburg insiders.
VW chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder all but confirmed plans when he stated recently that the German automaker plans to bolster its niche market potential in future years rather than relying on traditional volume sellers like the Polo, Jetta and Passat. In a report in Auto Motor und Sport, Pischetsrieder said “the roadster will be built” as a mid-engined model like the concept for proper balance and to more easily meet coming Euro pedestrian crash standards.

Mechanical details remain scarce, though it is likely the roadster will use suspension components from both the Polo and Golf. Three different gasoline engines could be used: a 2.0-liter, 148-hp four, the 2.0-liter, 197-hp turbocharged four-cylinder FSI from the soon-to-be-launched GTI, and a 3.6-liter, 280-hp V6 due out next year as the replacement for the engine in today’s Passat. The mid-mounted engines would come with either a standard six-speed manual or optional direct shift gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles.

[audivwmeister]

Originally Posted by Quiggs

A VW sports car is a much better idea than a VW luxury car. Now just price it right.

i'd love to see this thing do well and later be offered in a mid engine rwd coupe.

[F1_Master]

What do you call the VW Pheaton? That thing's luxury and has a V12. Its supposedly a competitor with BMW 760iL.

[Egg Nog]

I really hope they keep it cheap and very simple. This could easily be the new 914... (except not as ugly )

[Quiggs]

Did a little more digging. Early reports are Boxster-like performance, at ~$30,000.

I'm gonna start saving now.

[Rijoh]

I hope it's gonna look the same as the concept R, cause that just looked awesome.

[Deutscher Adler]

Originally Posted by Quiggs

Did a little more digging. Early reports are Boxster-like performance, at ~$30,000.

I'm gonna start saving now.

That car is gonna rock! I love Volkswagens!

[Deutscher Adler]

Some eye candy...

[QuattroMan]

Originally Posted by Deutscher Adler

Some eye candy...

HEY! I like to have one of this, are they going to built this car?

[VtecMini]

Originally Posted by Quiggs

Did a little more digging. Early reports are Boxster-like performance, at ~$30,000.

I'm gonna start saving now.

Off the top of my head, that's about £18k, right? Which is about the same, if not less than the latest Golf GTi. So with all due respect, that sounds somewhat optimistic. Anyone wanna put me straight on that one?

[Coventrysucks]

Originally Posted by VtecMini

Off the top of my head, that's about £18k, right? Which is about the same, if not less than the latest Golf GTi. So with all due respect, that sounds somewhat optimistic. Anyone wanna put me straight on that one?

To convert car prices from US to UK, just change the $ to a £.

$30,000 = £30,000

The GTI starts at £19,995.
when you've added all the extras everyone will want (bigger wheels, sparkly paint, leather, sat-nav etc) most of them will probably be going for about £25,000.

Boxster sells for £31k, so it'll have to under-cut that.

£27,995?

[jcp123]

hmm i like that, i actually hope they keep that interior

[Rijoh]

Originally Posted by jcp123

hmm i like that, i actually hope they keep that interior

But if the sun is shining ur gonna be blinded

[danno]

Originally Posted by F1_Master

What do you call the VW Pheaton? That thing's luxury and has a V12. Its supposedly a competitor with BMW 760iL.

supposedly. the fact is, nobody buys a VW thats that expensive. i dont think they have been selling particularly well.

[Quiggs]

The Phaetons have something like $15,000 incentives. They're impossible to move. The high-end Audis are cheaper, nicer and perform better.