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Originally Posted by MatadorRacing_F1
No way it's gonna be cheaper than a TT. In fact, it's hard to figure out why this exists when the TT is already in the lineup.
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TT is $40,000+ fwd/AWD 2+2 "secretary coupe" that is more about style over performance (except for the TTS and TT-RS) where as this would be a RWD/AWD pure 2 seater sports car for low 30k. Two differnet demographics.
http://www.insideline.com/volkswagen...bluesport.html
Also I think this is being mandated by the VW overlords who are intent on building their Bluesport concept car which along with the rumored "entry level" sub boxster/cayman neo 914 porsche will be built on the same platform. Basically VW wanted a small mid-engined sportscar and in order to justify the R&D costs they have forced versions on both Audi and Porsche. At least that is what I was told.
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Originally Posted by OldSkoolToys
Sure there's a couple of fronter's coming out, but I don't consider different drivetrains as 'direct' competitors.
I almost guarantee that Nissan will not allow Toyota to soak up all the glory in this market segment. They'll do something about it sooner than later.
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This Audi R4 may not be a direct competitor to the RWD Toyota FT-86 but if the turbocharged awd subaru 216a rumors are true then this car would be a direct competitor to the subie.
Notice the vw bluesport concept was RWD, around 2600lbs, and had similar dimensions to the FT-86. Of course that was a convertible and this Audi version would be a coupe which may or may not get a quattro awd version. All too early to tell. But the OP was asking for any competitors from the Detroit show and this is probably the closest thing.
I do agree that Nissan will not let this afront stand for too long:
apparently the nissan urge concept from 2006 has been spotted again recently...
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/13/2...ed-on-trailer/
And just to be clear I'm still buying an FT-86.