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VW BlueSport Roadster new wallpapers

The BlueSport concept was one of the most important models to debut at this year’s Detroit Show as it essentially confirms earlier rumors supporting that Volkswagen is preparing to introduce a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive roadster by 2011. If you click through, you can check out a new high-resolution gallery of the BlueSport that was released by the German firm.

VW Scirocco 1.4 TSI

With downsizing on everyone’s minds, smaller engines make more sense than ever – and that goes double for the Volkswagen Scirocco!

The German manufacturer has fitted the coupé with its superb 1.4-litre TSI engine, which benefits from both a turbocharger and supercharger. With 158bhp and a 0-62mph time of eight seconds, it’s no slouch, and there’s very little to differentiate the punchy and responsive 1.4 fromthe larger 2.0-litre TSI.

Economy is impressive, too. VW claims the smaller unit will achieve 43.5mpg – which is 6.3mpg more than the 2.0. But the engine is far from the only thing going for the Scirocco. As we’ve found with other variants, the handling is sweet and predictable, thanks largely to the Active Chassis Control (ACC) system, which electronically adjusts the suspension damping depending on road surface and driving style.

Inside and out, the 1.4 is identical to its larger-engined brother, offering a typically robust and well laid-out VW interior, as well as chunky, aggressive styling. So although it has 39bhp less power than the 2.0-litre, unless you’re a hardcore enthusiast, the 1.4 TSI takes the honours.

Rival: Mazda RX-8 R3
The latest RX-8 is attractive and great to drive. But it’s long in the tooth, and the looks and woeful economy are no match for the Scirocco.

VW Polo coming to the U.S.

Recently Automotive News stated that Volkswagen has determined that Americans might like a Polo, so it’s bringing the 80-hp subcompact Stateside in the not-too-distant future. Until now, the importation of the Polo was all conjecture, but now we have confirmation, straight from the horse’s mouth. No specifics were given about the diminutive hatchback’s U.S. debut, but Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby confirmed they think the time is right. The automaker feels that Americans are more open to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles following the summer of high gas prices and the struggling economy.

The car, which would slot in between the Toyota Yaris and the larger Honda Fit in size, could be built at the company’s plant in Puebla, Mexico. Although they’ve never sold anything smaller than the Rabbit/Golf in the States, VW thinks the Polo could help them reach their goal of tripling U.S. sales over the next ten years. The latest genereation of the Polo is set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but it’s unclear if we will be getting that model or its predecessor. We just hope the Polo GTI version is in the cards.

The VW Golf GTI heritage special

The new MkVI Golf GTI has finally arrived in our test car garage, and as Auto Express’s road test editor I couldn’t wait to see how one of motoring’s most enduring legends has evolved once again.

That said, when I saw the first pictures of the new MkIV GTI, I have to admit to being a little underwhelmed. Was it really different enough from its predecessors to make a big impression?

Spending time with the car in the metal brings a fresh perspective. The next generation GTI is much lower than its predecessor, with a much more squat, muscular stance. Will that be enough to make it class leader? We’ll have to see if engineers have pulled off a similar trick under the skin.

If the standard MkVI Golf is anything to go by, we’ve got a hot hatch treat to look forward to in the spring.

And with a bloodline that stretches back over 30 years, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to chart the evolution of the Golf with an exclusive special feature, bringing together every GTI generation.

These exclusive behind the scenes snaps give a sneak preview of our photoshoot, which has just been completed at a top-secret photo studio in the UK. I was lucky enough to be there to smuggle out these shots, but read about every detail of their development, you’ll have to wait until January 21st, when the full 16-page pull-out magazine will be offered free with Auto Express, and featured in full on autoexpress.co.uk.

And the cars in our pictures aren’t just any old Golfs, either.

Granted exclusive access to Volkswagen UK’s heritage collection, we had all six generations of GTI in condition that had to be seen to be believed. There were no shortages of volunteers from the Auto Express road test team to go along to the studio shoot and get up close and personal with these legendary hot hatches – and we weren’t disappointed.

I’m lucky enough to have driven the MkI GTI in our pictures before – but it looked very different when I took the wheel five years ago. Since then it’s been re-built from the ground up, using parts from several other vehicles, including its legendary Pirelli ‘P’ alloy wheels. The result is a stunning time warp of a car that’s now kept under lock and key forever more.

However, the MkI wasn’t my personal favourite on the day. It was fascinating to see the proportions of the new MkVI, and I’ve got happy memories of long drives in the MkV, but it’s the black MkII that held the most appeal for me. Not only was it in absolutely perfect condition, but the styling looks just as good today as the day it was launched.

VW Concept BlueSport

Volkswagen’s Concept Bluesport, one of the stars of the Detroit auto show, is a Mazda MX-5 rival based on a new group platform.

At the moment there’s about a 70 percent chance of the mid-engine rear wheel drive roadster making it into production, according to VW.

The decision will depend on whether SEAT and Audi can also develop their own versions to give VW Group the right economies of scale.

There is no fancy technology – the 1200 kilo (2645 lbs) roadster has a steel body and uses existing Group components with the front suspension, for example, from the new Golf. Everything about the car is production ready.

The engine for the Detroit show car is a 2.0 TDi with 180PS mated to a 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission; CO2 emissions are just 113g/km with 0-62mph acceleration in just 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 142mph. It has an automatic start-stop system.

A 1.4 TSI version is in the pipeline for the Geneva motor show in March and if reaction here in Detroit and again in Geneva is positive, then the chance of the car being built will increase considerably.

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