The Concept Bluesport was heralded as a new direction for Volkswagen, a mid-engined diesel-sipping roadster that promised fun without the fuel bills. Now, it appears the global financial crisis has forced VW to mothball plans for a production version of the concept, as uncertain economic times diminish the business case for such a car.

That presumably means the rumoured Audi R2 and entry-level Porsche are off the cards too, as both were expected to be based upon the Bluesport’s architecture - albeit without the Volkswagen’s thrifty diesel motor.

VW still remains enthusiastic about the idea of a diesel-powered arse-engined drop-top, but the priority for now is to maintain profitability and survive the financial SNAFU that’s enveloped much of the world. Once it’s out of the funk, we may see the Bluesport roadster once more, but for the time being its future is uncertain.