VW Ecoracer

[redbaron]

Just when I thought all rumours were gone about a VW elise-like sportscar, VW comes up with this:

http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/13772.jpg
http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/13773.jpg
http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/13774.jpg
http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/13769.jpg

This 850 kg car is powered by a 1.5 TDI with 100 kW/136 bhp at 4000 rpm and a torque of 250 Nm. In combination with the DSG transmission this results in a fuel consumption of only 3.4l/100km, a sprint of 0-100 km/h of 6.3 sec and a topspeed of 230 km/h. The Ecoracer is basically a coupe which can easily be converted to a roadster or speedster as you can see above.

And back are the rumours about the Volkswagen elise-like sportscar, which already started in the period when Piech was leading VAG. He liked the Elise so much he wanted VW to make a affordable light sportscar. But when Pischetsrieder took over the lead many of these projects were cancelled. The rumours now say the car will come in 2009, lets wait and see, hopefully they will not forget the Concept R.

[dannyroz]

Did they make it yellow to show how much they really are ripping off the Elise?

[dutchmasterflex]

i just vommited the 2 tuna sandwiches i had for lunch....

really nice concept though.. hope they rethink the design

[gucom]

er yeah so erm...thats ugly :? i'd have an elise over this any day (ok id have an elise over most sportscars, but still...i think i'd even have a Toyota MR2 over this :roll:
but im all in favour of VW building (affordable?) sportscars :)

[redbaron]

The front looks damn ugly... but the rear is pretty cool, and the possibility of driving a speedster, roadster or a coupe... whenever and however you want is just great! :D - and I don't understand why are you saying that this VW is a Elise rip off - it's just a light, low sports cars... same formula as the Elise, but that's all :?

I agree this car hasn't got the looks, but what interests me most is that they did not drop the idea of the elise-like sportscar (like dani I also don't like to call it a rip-off). But don't forget they also had the better looking concept R. Personally I could imagine a light affordable VW sportscar with the 170 bhp 1.4 turbo/compressor engine.

http://vnexpress.net/Vietnam/Oto-Xe-may/2003/09/3B9CB6E7/Concept_R_1B.jpg
concept R

[ferrarif1fan89]

its like a poor man's gallardo, lol. is it mid-engined?

[Nemisis8u]

Elise-like sportscar, with a diesel engine? Isnt that an oxymoron?

[RC45]

The obsession with diesel is just plain stupid.

Oh... and it is one ugly piece of crap...

After all is said and done, I woldl rather ahve a 1985 VW Golf GTi than that.

[JoeHahn]

Should have put the 'twincharger' engine in it, then it would have given the Elise a scare.

[Kiran]

If they don't mount the engine too far to the front and they make it rear wheel drive, then this will most probably be a big hit!!!

[RC45]

That's just plain ugly ;)

[homemade wrx]

I like the comparison to the 914...but done right those can perform quite well...I'm really wondering about it's price if they plan to keep it that light, being in the pictures you can see it is a carbon fiber chassis...