Volkswagen has long teased the automotive world with the prospect of a true sports car, a narrative marked by a series of captivating concepts that never reached production. Despite these past hesitations, a recent unveiling of previously unseen design sketches highlights an enduring creative drive within the company. These conceptual drawings, crafted in 2017, reveal a vision for an electric sports car that pays homage to a cult classic from Volkswagen's history, the Brazilian-market SP2. While it remains firmly in the realm of design studies, this retro-futuristic EV offers an intriguing glimpse into how Volkswagen's designers explored the possibility of blending heritage with their electric future, particularly in the context of the burgeoning ID range.
This design exercise underscores Volkswagen's continuous engagement with sporty vehicle concepts, even as its focus shifted towards mass-market electric vehicles following significant industry challenges. The decision to incorporate elements of the SP2 into a modern EV silhouette speaks volumes about the brand's desire to inject passion and historical resonance into its electric portfolio. Such a vehicle, had it progressed to production, could have served as a powerful statement, demonstrating the versatility and emotional appeal that could be achieved on platforms like the MEB, and perhaps even hint at the high-performance capabilities akin to models like the ID.3 GTX, thereby elevating the perception of Volkswagen's electric vehicle offerings.
The Enduring Dream of a VW Sports Car
Volkswagen has a history of presenting captivating sports car concepts that, frustratingly for enthusiasts, seldom transition into production realities. Models like the Concept R and BlueSport promised exhilarating performance and distinctive styling, yet remained confined to the exhibition circuit. The Scirocco emerged as the closest Volkswagen came to offering a dedicated sports car within its product portfolio. Despite these past tendencies, the underlying desire for a sports-oriented vehicle has clearly persisted within the company's design echelons. This continued exploration is evident in the recent surfacing of a previously unreleased design sketch, offering a fresh perspective on Volkswagen's enduring ambition.
The newly revealed sketch, crafted by designer Tibor Juhasz in 2017 and recently shared by Volkswagen's head design spokesperson, Stepan Rehak, showcases a retro-futuristic electric sports car. This vision was conceived during a pivotal period for Volkswagen, as the company was heavily investing in its MEB EV platform in the wake of the Dieselgate scandal. The concept car, envisioned as a potential addition to the ID range, draws significant design cues from the Volkswagen SP2, a distinctive, albeit performance-limited, sports car developed by Volkswagen's Brazilian subsidiary and sold between 1972 and 1975. This design choice highlights a fascinating blend of historical homage and forward-looking electric propulsion, suggesting an aspiration to infuse the electric vehicle lineup with a sense of heritage and emotional appeal.
A Glimpse into Electric Potential
The conceptual electric sports car design not only illustrates a commitment to innovative electric vehicle architecture but also subtly nods to Volkswagen's past while paving the way for future performance. The decision to base this design on the versatile MEB platform signifies a strategic intent to demonstrate the scalability and adaptability of their electric vehicle technology beyond traditional family cars. This approach, similar to the ID. Buzz's successful retro-inspired design, allows for a unique synergy between Volkswagen's rich heritage and its contemporary electric mobility objectives. The car's visual connection to the Brazilian-market SP2, a vehicle known for its striking looks rather than its modest performance, imbues the electric concept with an immediate sense of distinctive character and cult appeal.
Although the 2017 design sketches for this electric sports car never materialized into a production vehicle, they offer a compelling insight into the unfulfilled potential within Volkswagen's electric division. Such a vehicle, if brought to fruition, could have served as a powerful "halo" car for the ID range, showcasing the brand's technical prowess and design vision. Imagining it with a robust powertrain, perhaps mirroring the 321bhp, rear-wheel-drive setup and advanced adaptive damping seen in the ID.3 GTX, evokes a sense of missed opportunity. The existence of these sketches serves as a reminder that even unrealized concepts contribute to the ongoing narrative of automotive innovation, shaping aspirations and influencing future design directions within the industry.