Audi R4 perfect for Oz

A pint-sized, Audi R8-style sports car has been mooted for several years, and now Audi Australia's Managing Director, Andrew Doyle, has poured fuel on the flames by suggesting an affordable sub-Audi TT vehicle would find many friends Down Under.

"Personally I think there would be a market here for a smaller R8," said Doyle.

"We haven't got confirmation, and for good reason I think the guys are keeping a few things to themselves," the Audi Australia boss continued. "But my personal opinion is that [R4] would find a market for itself, especially if it's anywhere near as dynamic and as appealing as an R8 but in a smaller package."

Though still to be officially confirmed, Audi's top brass in Germany continue to hint that the R4 will happen, once timing and range positioning has been decided. As a volume seller, it will probably be pitched below the TT at a more affordable price, but Audi has previously indicated it wouldn't launch the R4 before the new third-generation TT arrives in 2014.

Given the resistance from within the Volkswagen fold to bringing the affordable, mid-engined R4 roadster to market, it would be unlikely to show up before the new TT, sometime in 2015.

It is understood the compact R4 would be shared with Volkswagen and Porsche, if it went into production as an Audi. Design for the Audi model could be informed by the e-tron Spyder Concept displayed at the Detroit motor show in 2010 (pictured).

Power for the R4 would most likely come from the Volkswagen Group's turbo-petrol engine range, and Doyle noted that it would be a perfect fit here due to a "strong demand from the Australian public" for performance cars.

"We have quite a good mix of performance cars in this country, relative to many European countries, and though we can't drive at 200km/h, I think there's still an appreciation of good design and good technology and good engineering," he said.

Meanwhile, rumours of a hyper car that would sit above the R8 continue to persist, with Audi insiders insisting the so-called 'Scorpion' model would rival the latest McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari.

While talk of leveraging its Le Mans diesel-hybrid powertrain technology for a road-legal R18 exotic car is rife, it's also recognised that Audi would have a tough time selling a ball-tearing diesel sports car in important markets such as North America and China where diesels are niche.

Nonetheless, Doyle reaffirmed recent reports that the R18 is in development, but is yet to be given the green-light for production because it wouldn't make money.

"Yes the R18 [road car] has been rumoured and there's clearly the technology there but it's up to the engineers to work it out and for the business case to make sense," he said.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.