Volkswagen confirms roadster concept for NAIAS

Volkswagen is reportedly working on an affordable mid-engine sports car, which it plans to release sometime early next decade. A concept of the car was originally slated for debut at this month’s Los Angeles Auto Show, however a company spokesman has now revealed the concept’s released has been pushed back to the Detroit Auto Show in January.

The spokesman also revealed to Automotive News Europe that VW plans to launch the production version in 2011 as a halo model for the brand, and that it would ride on an upgraded version of the platform used in the Audi R8.

This latest snippet of information contradicts previous reports that suggested the new model would be positioned as an affordable roadster designed along the lines of the Toyota MR2 and Porsche Boxster.

Previous VW roadster concepts that were never given the green light for production include 2003’s Concept R, a high-end roadster penned by the company’s former design guru Peter Schreyer, as well as 2005's Eco Racer study, both conceived during the tenure of former VW board chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder, whose goal of a mid-engine sports car at VW may finally be realized.

There has been speculation that both Audi and Porsche could release their own respective versions of the car to help spread development costs and minimize investment risk, however the no official confirmation has been announced yet.