But will they ever make it?

It all looks and feels as though VW wanted to make sure it can put the car into production without too much change - if it decides to go ahead. With the best will in the world it will be at least two years before you see one on a showroom floor, though.

'There is a will to put it into production,' VW says, 'but it all depends on whether there is a business case and whether we have the production facilities.'

Clearly, the company is thinking seriously about the idea, though: it has hinted that if it is made, it's likely to cost from 18,000 (just under 15,600 at today's exchange rate).

At that price, we reckon dealers would get killed in the rush.