Volkswagen was rumored late final decade to be growing an electrical sports activities automotive, however for causes identified solely to the automaker, the challenge by no means materialized and VW as a substitute targeted on higher-volume EVs just like the ID.4 compact crossover. If we needed to hazard a guess, excessive improvement prices mixed with low projected demand had been possible the primary components.
Whereas VW by no means brazenly mentioned plans for the electrical sports activities automotive, some lately surfaced design sketches could trace at what it may need seemed like. VW designer Tibor Juhasz created the sketches in 2017, and so they solely got here to gentle lately because of a LinkedIn put up by Stepan Rehak, who leads design communication on the automaker.
One thing Previous, One thing New, One thing Borrowed, One thing Blue…
In a sequence of posts showcasing early design concepts for VW’s ID household of electrical autos, Rehak defined that the idea behind the sports activities automotive sketches was a sporty ID mannequin based mostly on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform – utilized in fashions just like the ID.4 and ID. Buzz minivan. That implies it might have delivered round 335 horsepower, utilizing electrical motors shared with different MEB-based autos.
Rehak stated the inspiration got here from the little-known VW SP2, a Nineteen Seventies-era sports activities automotive offered solely in Brazil. He additionally cited the affect of design legend Giorgetto Giugiaro, referencing his signature clear surfaces paired with daring graphics. Curiously, the general form bears a resemblance to the Ferrari 12Cilindri, launched final 12 months. Ferrari, coincidentally, additionally revived the SP2 identify for its Monza SP2 supercar a couple of years again.
A Sibling To An Electrical Audi TT?
Again when rumors of a VW electrical sports activities automotive first surfaced, hypothesis urged it may very well be constructed on the former Karmann plant in Osnabrück, Germany. The plant, now managed by VW, focuses on low-volume manufacturing and at present builds the T‑Roc Cabriolet, in addition to dealing with overflow manufacturing for Porsche’s 718 Boxster and Cayman fashions. The plant’s flexibility and experience in small-series meeting made it a logical candidate for such a distinct segment mannequin.
On the time, trade whispers additionally pointed to a potential connection between VW’s challenge and an electrical successor to the Audi TT. That mannequin, too, was reportedly shelved, however the idea could also be revived quickly. Audi is predicted to unveil an electrical sports activities automotive idea later this 12 months that may introduce a brand new design language for the model. The idea can also be thought to preview a future manufacturing mannequin positioned someplace between the now-discontinued TT and the flagship R8.
We won’t assist questioning what the response to such a VeeDub would possibly’ve been within the late 2010s. Other than being pre-COVID – which seems like a lifetime in the past at this level – this was a time not thus far faraway from VW’s Dieselgate scandal. May the German model have rebuilt its status faster with a neat, comparatively cheap efficiency EV as a substitute of the quite pedestrian ID.4?
Though VW by no means put an electrical sports activities automotive into manufacturing, it did discover the higher limits of EV efficiency with the ID.R time-attack demonstrator. Designed purely for motorsport-style efficiency, the ID.R set a record-shattering Nürburgring lap time of 6:05.33 in 2019 – nonetheless the quickest lap by any EV so far. Whereas it was by no means destined for showrooms, the challenge offered VW with worthwhile insights into high-performance battery administration, electrical motor sturdiness, and superior aerodynamic design.
Supply: Volkswagen
