Audi, this is a request - no, a plea - for you to produce a rear-wheel-drive version of the Audi R8 V6 you are developing but can’t confirm exists.

We're confident that it exists because our snappers have caught it testing on the continent - and that’s great, even though you can’t confirm it, because there’s a gap for such a sports car on the market.

Your sibling, Porsche, has discontinued the flat-six of its mid-engined Cayman, which many still proclaim was the best attainable all-round sports car. It’s left a gaping hole for a genuinely usable midship-six in this segment.

Good news, then, that the R8 V6 is coming. Hurrah, indeed. Maybe it'll also fill the void left by the discontinued R8 V8, although, I often prefer the silky tone of a six-cylinder engine over a more monotone V8, anyway. That statement might see a P45 land on my desk…

But there's one thing: we're worried the R8 V6 might be all-wheel drive only. This would be a massive shame.

As shown by the launch of your new R8 RWS - you know, the rear-wheel-drive one - there’s a hunger for purer, more basic driver-focused cars. And one available with a V6 engine wouldn’t just plug the hole in the segment, it would help dry the tears of those wishing for another six-pot Cayman – one that’s not limited in production like the GT4.

So, Audi, keep up this momentum after the launch of the rear-drive R8 and do the right thing. Launch a rear-wheel-drive Audi R8 V6, please.

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