First Drive: 2012 Volkswagen BlueSport To Rival Mazda MX-5

Volkswagen is giving Mazda’s MX-5 some serious competition. The firm wowed the crowds at January’s Detroit Motor Show with its stunning BlueSport concept – and now, Auto Express has driven it.

It was designed from the outset to provide all the thrills of a performance car, but with a fraction of the environmental impact. The similarities between the BlueSport badge and VW’s low-emission BlueMotion brand are no coincidence. The two-seater is fitted with a 2.0-litre TDI engine which produces 178bhp and 350Nm of torque.

That’s plenty of power for a car of this size, and thanks to the addition of VW’s six-speed DSG gearbox, automatic stop-start and regenerative braking, it’s efficient, too. Economy of 42mpg and CO2 emissions of 113g/km are more comparable to a supermini than a sports car. A host of weight-saving measures – the most significant of which is the manually operated roof – has ensured kerbweight is kept to 1,200kg. Acceleration is brisk – 0-60mph takes only 6.6 seconds, while the top speed is 140mph.

Read Article

_43LE - 7/16/2009 12:19:12 PM

+4 Boost

I don't think that this would be a rival to the Miata. It's a step above and will be priced much higher.

sector - 7/16/2009 12:23:24 PM

-4 Boost

Nice idea but a diesel? who the hell want's to listen to tractor noises out in the open?

rxh8me9000 - 7/16/2009 3:52:00 PM

+1 Boost

Ya,diesels arnt how they use to be.

Joe_Limon - 7/19/2009 2:19:07 PM

+1 Boost

Your right, I drove past a tdi jetta the other day, it sounded like a regular diesel, only with it's balls cut off making just clicking noises.

inspirion7 - 7/16/2009 3:25:20 PM

+2 Boost

Uh, where is the first drive. This means a little more that stats and projections from the company. Normally rubber to the road, responses to input, the use of petrol. So basically this is rehashed. Again.

dlin - 7/16/2009 3:48:00 PM

+3 Boost

Don't think it can match MX-5. Not even Z4 can.

rxh8me9000 - 7/16/2009 3:56:35 PM

+3 Boost

Is this a first drive or a first look?Anyways, even people with no arms will say this looks better than the Miata,hands down. The Miata is a veteran in its class so hopefully V-Dub did their research.

investor27 - 7/16/2009 5:49:14 PM

+2 Boost

This is not a match for the MX-5, the world's best selling roadster. The Miata MX-5 has been on the market for over 15 years now. It is so refined, and is affordable. This V-Dub is going to be expensive, and not affordable. You guys should take the 2600 lbs Mazda Miata out for a test drive, and you will be driving home with one before you know it.

investor27 - 7/19/2009 1:15:38 PM

+1 Boost

I agree that the V-Dub is a better looking car than the Miata. But will it be as refined as the proven Miata is the bigger question.