Autoweek reports that it will be, as originally rumoured, a lightweight and affordable roadster - and that there will be a coupe as well. Production could begin as early as 2011, with assembly contracted to Karmann.
'We are working on a mid-engined concept for the Los Angeles motor show,' a Volkswagen source told Autoweek. 'It is the fifth time in as many years that we have created such a car, but this time, more than any other, the signs are looking good that we will get a production green light.'
With its mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout, the coupe and roadster are no doubt influenced by both the Concept R (2003) and the EcoRacer (2005) show cars.
Styling is said to be led by Walter de'Silva, and the general brief is to produce a 'cut-rate Lotus Elise'.
Engines for the proposed range are thought to be the 1.4 TSI Twincharger unit (170bhp) and the new 1.6 (125bhp) diesel, both to be offered with the new seven-speed DSG transmission.
Many of the car's components will be taken from the vast VW Group parts bin, but its chassis and structure, an aluminium spaceframe construction, will be unique and developed by Audi - who could well be working on a more powerful version, the so-called 'R4'.
In Audi R4 form, the car could be fitted with the 2.0 TFSI engine (211bhp) and upcoming 2.0 twin-turbo diesel (204bhp), and there's a further variant possible: 'VW majority shareholder Porsche is said to have shown interest in the project", reports Autoweek, 'opening the way for a possible resurrection of the 914.'
source:channel4
