The VW Concept R was unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show. The car is a sporty 2-seater roadster with mid-engine and rear wheel drive. The VW Concept R is powered by a V6 3.2 L FSI petrol engine with a maximum output of 195 kW / 261 hp. Apparently this is strong enough to enable this sports car to reach 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds. The VW Concept R was based on the VW Golf Hatchback. The car is 4,1m long, 1,8m wide and 1,2 high. The VW Concept R is fitted with a 6 speed direct-shift transmission and has a top speed of 250 km/h which is electronically limited. This concept car has a Volkswagen logo which is generated digitally by a display and begins to pulsate in the OLED screen when the ignition is turned on by the driver. The pulse stops when the ignition is activated. The seats are not adjustable at all. The correct seating position must be found by electrically moving the polished metal information block of the instrument panel, including the steering wheel and pedal cluster back or forth in order to find the correct seating position. The VW Concept R’s seats are filled with active foam. The active foam adapts to the body shape of the driver and passenger. This is a first for sports car. In 2005 VW confirmed that they intend to build a production car derived from the VW Concept R concept car. It’s 2009, no production model based on this vehicle has been released yet, but the VW Concept Blue Sport was revealed at the 2009 North American Auto Show, which is derived from the VW Concept R.
This is a very stylish looking car. No two ways about it. I doubt that this car will ever be transformed into a production car. And should this become a production vehicle its highly unlikely that it will make it to South Africa. I will keep my fingers crossed though. In the meanwhile I’ll look around in the classifieds for a 2nd hand vehicle instead. The VW Concept R probably will not be within my price range if its released here.
