Generic return type with 'auto'

This question is only applicable until C++11. The C++14 standard allows auto return type for regular functions.

[References]
Read this for explanation

C++11 introduced keyword auto that can be used as a placeholder for data types. auto instructs compiler to deduce the actual type of variable from expression. e.g

auto x = 5;  // x is inferred as int
auto pFoo = new Foo();   // and pFoo as Foo*

However auto cannot be used as return type of a function. Following code will not compile:

template<typename T1, typename T2>
auto mult(T1 a, T2 b )   // Compilation Error
{ 
       return a*b;     
}

Suppose we want to have a generic implementation of mult, considering above which one of the following is best solution?