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Volkswagen disappointed its U.S. faithful when it announced last March that the United States would not be getting a version of its revived Scirocco hot hatch, but changing market conditions and strong consumer demand may have VW rethinking that decision.
According to Automotive News, VW is now considering giving the U.S. a version of the all-new Scirocco. VW originally scratched the Scirocco from its U.S. lineup due to an unfavorable exchange rate and the fear that the Scirocco would cannibalize Rabbit and GTI sales. However, a stronger U.S. dollar and higher-than-expected demand has VW reconsidering that decision.
“People are looking at: ‘Would it make sense? What are the volumes?’ and all that,” Steve Keyes, a spokesman for Volkswagen Group of America Inc., told Automotive News. “There’s no real decision yet, but we’re now discussing whether maybe there’s another way to bring a Scirocco here, positioning it a little bit differently.”
If the Scirocco does receive the green light for the U.S. market, VW would position it above the GTI – both in performance and price. VW is using the previous R32 as a case study for the U.S.’ Scirocco, with production likely to be capped at 2,000 or fewer units.
Like the R32, the Scirocco could also see a limited lifecycle. With a new GTI and hotter GTI-R on the way, VW would likely clear out the Scirocco before the new Golf-based models hit dealer showrooms.
No time frame has been given the Scirocco’s possible return to the U.S., but the new model has been on the European market since August.
According to Automotive News, VW is now considering giving the U.S. a version of the all-new Scirocco. VW originally scratched the Scirocco from its U.S. lineup due to an unfavorable exchange rate and the fear that the Scirocco would cannibalize Rabbit and GTI sales. However, a stronger U.S. dollar and higher-than-expected demand has VW reconsidering that decision.
“People are looking at: ‘Would it make sense? What are the volumes?’ and all that,” Steve Keyes, a spokesman for Volkswagen Group of America Inc., told Automotive News. “There’s no real decision yet, but we’re now discussing whether maybe there’s another way to bring a Scirocco here, positioning it a little bit differently.”
If the Scirocco does receive the green light for the U.S. market, VW would position it above the GTI – both in performance and price. VW is using the previous R32 as a case study for the U.S.’ Scirocco, with production likely to be capped at 2,000 or fewer units.
Like the R32, the Scirocco could also see a limited lifecycle. With a new GTI and hotter GTI-R on the way, VW would likely clear out the Scirocco before the new Golf-based models hit dealer showrooms.
No time frame has been given the Scirocco’s possible return to the U.S., but the new model has been on the European market since August.
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