Something is rotten in Zuffenhausen. Ingolstadt, too. Once upon a time, in the frozen wasteland that is Detroit in January, Volkswagen unveiled the turbo-diesel BlueSport roadster at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The press was awed, the car drove onto the stage amidst a flurry of dancing children, the marketing gurus at ze People's automaker were thrilled and we all expected to see the car hit production with some expediency. That didn't happen, and now we may know why. According to Automobile, the project may have been given the back burner treatment due to internal jousting between Porsche, VW and Audi.

It's no secret that all three automakers have been mulling whether or not to jump on a small, mid-engine platform, but it looks like both Porsche and Audi aren't really interested in filling their ranks with a VW creation. Porsche isn't keen on the notion of selling a new entry model that might dent sales of the upcoming redesigned Boxster, and Audi can't really make a case for adding another sports car to its portfolio.

That leaves VW with one very efficient, very sexy concept and no way to bring it to reality without the cooperation of its corporate cousins. Odds are the scuffle will be ironed out after Porsche is officially brought under the VW tent once and for all, but until then, we wouldn't hold our breath for the VW BlueSport. The Porsche 918 Spyder on the other hand...

Audi’s £25k mid-engined R4 is destined for production in 2014/15, after chairman Rupert Stadler decided to press ahead with a plan to share platforms with new entry-level Porsche and Volkswagen two-seaters.

Previewed by the E-tron Spyder concept, the new sports car project has been the subject of intensive planning between Audi, Porsche and VW. Recent reports in the German media have even suggested the R4 had been placed on hold, amid concerns it was too close to the established TT.

But Audi officials have confirmed to Autocar that the svelte-looking R4 has received the official green light, and will form a significant part of the company’s future sports car programme.