If 4 Wheels News and Autocar are both correct, there’s good news regarding the production of VW’s Miata-fighting BlueSport roadster. Development is progressing on schedule, and the production version is set to be introduced at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September of 2013. As it stands right now, there will be at least two motor options for the mid-engined roadster, including a turbodiesel and a 1.6 liter gasoline motor good for an estimated 220 horsepower. Even the turbodiesel is said to be good for zero to sixty times well below seven seconds, while delivering exceptional fuel economy. The gasoline motored version should be even faster, at the expense of fuel mileage, and both versions are expected to be offered with either a six speed manual gearbox or a seven speed, dual clutch DSG gearbox.
The VW BlueSport will share the same platform, dubbed MMB, with both Porsche and Audi, who are working on their own mid-engined roadsters. For Porsche, the MMB platform will give them an entry level car, slated to come in below the Boxster. For Audi, the MMB platform will be used to develop the Audi R4 Roadster, which will probably hit their product line below the current TT. The MMB platform is scalable, which means ti can be used to create cars with different widths and (presumably) different wheelbases. All I know is that VW had me with “affordable mid-engined roadster”.