VW BlueSport Roadster Production on Hold as Sales Numbers Don't Crunch up

Three years ago, almost to the day, Volkswagen unveiled the BlueSport Concept at the 2009 North American International Show. At the time, sources within the company said that the mid-engine roadster was earmarked for production and would also underpin an Audi version as well as a “baby” Porsche Boxster.

The good news is that the BlueSport, which even in its concept form looked like it could enter production with only a few minor tweaks, is virtually ready to offer some open-top, rear-wheel drive affordable pleasure to potential buyers. At least that’s what VW’s engineering boss, Uli Hackenberg, told Autocar magazine.

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VW E-Bugster Study Zooms into the Detroit Auto Show

If you liked Volkswagen's approach with the new Beetle then chances are you're going to give a thumbs up to the E-Bugster study that made its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show this week.

Wider, lower and sportier looking that the regular Beetle, the concept's name blends the words "E" (for electric), "Bug" and "speedster". It's closest relative is the similarly styled Ragster study back from 2005.

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Volkswagen's E-Bugster Concept is an All-Electric Beetle Hot Rod

At the 2005 North American International Show, Volkswagen introduced the New Beetle Ragster concept. It was a second-generation Beetle convertible with a much lower roofline and its name was conjured by crossing the words “ragtop” and “speedster”.

Fast-forward six years, and the “People’s Car” company (for that’s what Volkswagen literally means in German) is launching a similar concept at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show .

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Volkswagen Teases "Big Detroit Reveal", What Could it be?

We're less than 48 hours away from the grand opening of 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and we've already had our first leak of the day with the official pictures and video of the 2013 Dodge Dart.

Now, Volkswagen's Canadian arm is trying to capture our attention with the release of a picture shot at its Detroit Auto Show booth that shows an unidentified vehicle wrapped up in a sheet.

"The North American International Auto Show kicks off Monday in Detroit. Volkswagen has something big to reveal. What do you think it will be?" the company asks on its Facebook page where it published the picture.

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Volkswagen to Debut Beetle-Based Electric Hot Rod at the Detroit Motor Show

We just learned that Volkswagen's surprise debut at next week's 2012 North American International Motor Show in Detroit will be a pure-electric concept model based on the new generation of the Beetle – despite previous reports saying otherwise.

The conceptual EV version of the recently launched 2012 Beetle will sport a heavily modified body with a lowered roof and wider fenders with its looks slightly resembling the Volkswagen Ragster Concept (pictured above) that was displayed at the 2005 Detroit Motor Show.

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New Volkswagen Electric Car Concept and Jetta Hybrid Headed to Detroit Show

While a little late to the party, the Volkswagen Group plans to make up for its lackluster presence in the electric and hybrid vehicle sector with a barrage of eco-friendly models within the next couple of years.

At the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the VW brand will lift the covers off a never before seen pure electric concept car and the production version of the Jetta Hybrid, according to the Detroit Free Press.

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It’s a CC Thing: Volkswagen's New Cross Coupe Concept Live from the Tokyo Show Floors

For a very long time, we only had rugged 4x4s, but then SUVs made their appearance in the market followed shortly after by crossovers and before we knew it, all hell broke loose and each carmaker invented its own acronym to describe a specific niche in any given segment.

Albeit a conceptual proposal, the Volkswagen Cross Coupe is one such example with the German automaker describing it thusly: "a crossover between a four-door coupé and a compact SUV".

We'll just note that a four-door coupe is a crossover between a coupe and a sedan and leave it at there before we start saying things we shouldn’t…

Naming and segment games aside, the CC SUV is a handsome creation overall though its snout could use some styling attention as it's somewhat flavorless compared to the rest of the car in the sense that you could throw in a Seat badge and no one would notice.

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New Volkswagen Cross Coupe SUV Concept Bows at 2011 Tokyo Motor Show

The Cross Coupé SUV concept is Volkswagen's surprise debut for the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show that opened its doors (to the press) today.

The German automaker says that concept is a study for a potential new CC-style SUV that "hints at how a crossover between a four-door coupé and an SUV could look like" -think small BMW X6- while also previewing an evolved form of VW's current design language.

The concept is the first VW model based on the company’s new ‘modular transverse matrix’ or MQB platform architecture to be shown to the public. The MQB chassis will be used in a number of VW Group models ranging from the next Golf to the Audi TT's successor.

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Volkswagen Looks Into the Transporter's Future with New eT! Concept Van

Volkswagen has been in the business of making light commercial vans for over 60 years now, ever since the introduction of the famous T1 / Type 2 (also known as the Kombi and the Microbus) based on the legendary Beetle in 1950.

Now, the German automaker wants to reinvent the commercial van and show the road it will follow with the future generations of the Transporter through an innovative concept model called eT!.

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Spicy VW Beetle R Concept Makes its U.S. Debut at the 2011 LA Auto Show [Updated Gallery +Video]

Officially, it’s just a concept, but the wording on VW’s press release hints at a production version of the Beetle R that was first shown at the 64th IAA in Frankfurt before it made its North American debut today at the LA Auto Show.

Developed by Volkswagen R GmbH - that is, the same people responsible for the Scirocco R and Golf R models, the Beetle R is said to show “the potential for an ever sportier version of the Beetle”.

The company also claims that the 200HP turbocharged 2.0-liter of the Beetle Turbo “could offer even more performance, similar to that of the Golf R and Scirocco R”.

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VW Boss Confirms Production Version of XL1 Concept for 2013

Remember the XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle (SEV) diesel-electric hybrid concept that Volkswagen unveiled at the Qatar Motor Show this past January? Martin Winterkorn, CEO of the VW Group, told to Autonews Europe that development plans for the ultra-efficient two-seater model are proceeding.

"We will start small series production by 2013 – in Germany," Winterkorn told the publication.

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New Volkswagen Scale Models Hit Official Store

More often than not, when a new Volkswagen model is presented to the public, the German automaker commissions a matching scale replica, and this week, we have not one, but four new miniature vehicles that go on sale through the company's official store.

These include the production versions of the new up! city car and the Beetle along with the two-seater XL1 diesel-electric hybrid study and the Race Touareg 3 competition vehicle.

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