The compact Audi e-Tron becomes the production Audi R4. The first BlueSport car?
Auto Motor und Sport are claiming the Audi R4 will launch in 2013. We agree, but we think it’s the first of the VW BlueSport options to the market – the Audi R4 BlueSport, as a Coupe and a Roadster.
The idea of a baby brother for the Audi R8 has been floating around for as long as the R8 has been with us. But it now looks as if Audi have a real plan and are going to give us the Audi R4 – but not for a couple of years.
The Audi R4 is expected to be a production version of the second Audi e-Tron concept – the e-Tron from Detroit – but come equipped with proper engines instead of the headline eco-electric versions touted at the time of the concept. That option will be left to the full sized e-Tron – the e-Tron from Frankfurt – which will come to market as a limited run, all-electric supercar.
To us, this looks as if it’s the first confirmation that VW’s BlueSport platform is getting off the ground. It’s been on the cards for ages, but VW needed at least three viable takers in the VW Group to make it happen. We think the R4 is the first – the production Audi BlueSport. And it will of course come as a Roadster as well as a Coupe.
We reported back in July last year that the BlueSport was a go, and we reckoned that Audi was already in the game. Who will be the others? Hard to say. There is room for a baby Porsche Roadster, a VW BlueSport or even a Skoda BlueSport – we’ve reported on them all. We’ll soon see. If this R4 is the Audi BlueSport the others aren’t far behind.
We’re guessing a starting point on price in the low £20k. Expect engine options from the 1.4-litre TSI to the 2.0 litre TDI. And perhaps even a halo version with the Golf R’s 265bhp lump, although that sort of goes against the spirit of the ‘Affordable Roadster’ the BlueSport was supposed to be.
Still, an Audi R4 with 265bhp and a 0-60mph not much over 5 seconds – and in the mid £30k range – would be enticing.
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