Porsche rejects BlueSport Concept

Porsche has rejected the BlueSport concept as a new entry-level Porsche

The VW BlueSport concept debuted at the Detroit Motor Show in January, and offered the prospect of an economical, fun roadster from the VW group. But at the time VW made it clear that the car would have to work across three of its brands to be viable. VW are obviously up for the project, and Audi look likely to go along with BlueSport with the planned E2 Roadster. And it had been thought that Porsche, who need to reduce their Co2 output across the range to help with their CAFE figures, would utilise the BlueSport as a modern day Porsche 924, But apparently not.

Porsche’s R&D boss Wolfgang Dürheimer, talking to Auto Motor Und Sport said that Porsche had no plans to join the BlueSport Project, stating that Porsche wanted to remain a premium brand and had no interest or plans to develop a new entry-level Porsche, which seems pretty categoric.

So where does that leave the BlueSport Project? Well, as we’ve already said, VW need to spread the BlueSport across at least three of its brands to make it viable. Apart from VW and Audi, Porsche was always the favourite third option. But as we reported back in March, it’s starting to look like a Skoda Roadster, based on the BlueSport Concept, is becoming more likely. Initially we thought the Skoda brand may have been a bit too down-market to work, but the huge strides Skoda has made in recent years, with many of its products offering a better solution than VW, at a lower price, makes it a viable option.

So, we find it highly unlikely that VW will simply drop the BlueSport concept just because Porsche don’t want to play. And a three way deal with VW, Skoda and Audi making BlueSport Roadsters does look viable. Three levels of price and specification, from the no-frills Skoda, to the mid-range VW and the high-end Audi, would work. With 40+mpg and heaps of fun – in the mould of the Mazda MX5 – we can see this project has great promise.

Come on VW, get it signed off!