No Scirocco for the States

[Joey D]

Bastards! VW Scirocco won't be coming to the U.S.

Source:Autoblog, Automotive News

According to Automotive News, Volkswagen of America doesn't want the new Scirocco when it's released in the next few years. The reason? Another two-door, Golf-based hatch would cannibalize sales of the GTI, and with American's apparent distaste for hatches, sales would be underwhelming.

Adrian Hallmark, executive veep at VW of America maintains that, "having six different coupes and hatchbacks would be crazy," which seems like sound logic. At the same time however, an argument for VW to have a more low-slung coupe in their lineup, regardless of how you pop the trunk, may be to the automaker's benefit. Even more so if the Scirocco was outfitted with higher-end appointments –- distancing itself from the GTI, but still coming in a few notches below some of Audi's entry-level offerings.

Still, no word on what will motivate the new Scirocco when it comes to market, although judging by the IROC concept from which it will be based, we'd expect a six- or seven-speed DSG mated to some application of V-Dub's TSI twincharger setup.

 

[exigeracer]

Can someone please explain how they are losing considerable money if someone buys a Scirocco instead of a Golf? Either way, they make the same amount of money.

 

[skip0110]

Can someone please explain how they are losing considerable money if someone buys a Scirocco instead of a Golf? Either way, they make the same amount of money.

VW needs to market, certify, manufacture and ship two different cars, but that would result in no new sales.

 

[exigeracer]

But that would be the case if they sold just the Rocco, it would still cost the same amount to manufacture and ship the same car.

 

[Sakiale]

The GTI is their flagship. With the Scirroco, it would die. Reference Porsche not making a Cayman GT3.

 

[Omnis]

But every Sirocco sold means that they won't sell GTIs.

 

[Jim Prower]

I think it should be a fastback, like it used to be. That way, you don't have GTi confusion.

 

[Keichi Tsuchiya]

I don't care, I want one!

 

[exigeracer]

The GTI is their flagship. With the Scirroco, it would die. Reference Porsche not making a Cayman GT3.

So what about the rest of the world? The GTI only survives in the NA market?

VW makes money if the buyer decided to buy a GTI, and makes money if the buyer decides to buy a Rocco. Where's the problem?

 

[Sakiale]

So what about the rest of the world? The GTI only survives in the NA market?

VW makes money if the buyer decided to buy a GTI, and makes money if the buyer decides to buy a Rocco. Where's the problem?

Touche.

Exigeracer: 1 Sakiale: 0.

 

[Jim Prower]

So what about the rest of the world? The GTI only survives in the NA market?

VW makes money if the buyer decided to buy a GTI, and makes money if the buyer decides to buy a Rocco. Where's the problem?

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE!!!!!

The problem lies in the expense of producing two cars in the same market. It's more expensive to produce two cars. The sales are the same. You don't make as much money as producing one car and selling it.

to sum up.

Total sales = same either way.
2 cars = More expensive to make.
1 car = less expensive to make.

In this situation, 1 car is less expensive than two. HOWEVER, In another market, you may have the abiliy to better differentiate the second model. you sell that model there, and your total sales increase. You make more money.

 

[exigeracer]

The second model is being produced anyways.

 

[Gil]

Add to that, the Scirocco has, as in the past, similar performance to the Golf.
They used to be within a tenth or two of each other.
What's the point.
You will note that the Mustang/Capri pairing became the Mustang only.
And they looked enough alike that there was likely very minimal tooling up cost.
With these two there is a limited market for hatches. Having two in the same line-up based on the same running gear is not only overkill, as well as fiscally unsound.

 

[YSSMAN]

In the words of Darth Vader: "Noooooooooooooooo!"

The sheer idiocy of this decision is beyond me. With dealers around the country overly-excited to finally see an all-new product to bring in new customers looking for a high-performance coupe, this is a big disappointment. Sure, the GTI would have been 'threatened' by the presence of the Scirocco, but come-on, if they were going to price the Scirocco above the GTI (presumably) it wouldn't have been a threat at all.

Quite frankly, if VW was smart, they'd cram the VR6 underneath and only sell it in the US as the Corrado. A couple thousand here and there, price it right, and it won't be a threat to anything other than the standard STi and Evo fare...

 

[Onikaze]

Well, there are folks who wouldn't be caught dead looking twice at a GTI who might actually give a Scirocco or Corrado a chance.

I'm not one, mind, VW is dead to me, but I'm sure they're out there, and saddened by this news.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I would cry if I was an American, this car looks gorgeous 👍

I don't like VW except for the Passat but this looks awesome! 👍

 

[Pupik]

What VW is saying makes logical financial sence; hatches are hatches to some people. But I think they're missing out on an opportunity to market something VW never had a in the US market, a sports-car.

At the end of the day, VW is only taken seriously by a tiny market share in the US because they make many products for only four market segments, the sedan, compact car, the hatchback, and the SUV.

True, the Scirocco didn't sell all that well in the first-half of the 1990s, but then again, no sports car under $40k sold in any numbers back then, anyhow. I think it's a case of "opportunity lost" for VeeDub.

 

[Hugo Boss]

It will probably be shipped to the US I think, only about 1-2 years after the European release. How long do you guys have the GTI in NA? Not as long as Europe, am I right? This way the succes of the GTI can continue and VW fixed most of the 'bugs' in the Scirocco by then. At that time the Mark VI Golf/Rabbit will be released as well and the Scirocco can count as a sales booster for the Mark VI Rabbit. I don't know that much about marketing, but this is what I can come up with.

 

[YSSMAN]

We didn't see the GTI until the 2006 Model year I believe, about two years after Europe if I'm not mistaken...

 

[Hugo Boss]

OK, thanks YSSMAN. Here in Europe the GTI is available since 2004 indeed and it still sells very good. In the Netherlands it's by far the best selling hot hatch. How does the GTI sell compared to the Rabbit in NA?

 

[YSSMAN]

Maybe its just where I am, but I normally notice more GTIs running about than the Rabbit, but I guess those numbers are evening out. I know dealers have had a tough-ish time keeping Rabbits on the lots, and given that I'm in domestic-dominated Michigan, that makes it all the more surprising.

Either way though, the Jetta has probably outsold the Golf/Rabbit variants 2:1 across the US in most cases... But thats because we're crazy...

 

[Joey D]

I see more GTI's as well, but I live right down the road from VAG's HQ in Auburn Hills. I think most of them are company cars.

 

[exigeracer]

Volkswagen Scirocco? Do they even make those any more?!?!

 

[Jim Prower]

Volkswagen Scirocco? Do they even make those any more?!?!

The IROC concept (that green car) will become the new Scirocco

 

[exigeracer]

Family Guy quote. Should've put fake vB tags, sorry.

 

[Tornado]

Sure, the GTI would have been 'threatened' by the presence of the Scirocco, but come-on, if they were going to price the Scirocco above the GTI (presumably) it wouldn't have been a threat at all.

To Volkswagen. It would, however, seem to atack a couple of products produced by the company with four rings.

 

[YSSMAN]

Thats something that should happen anyway. I can't fathom the notion of buying an A3 2.0T over the GTI, but maybe thats because I'm mentally challenged...

 

[dougiemeats]

According to Autoblog, the Scirocco may be headed for the U.S. afterall.

 

[Kent]

I'd say Hugo Boss had it right (if this comes to the states). 👍
Also, I doubt this has to do with Audi. Rather, it has to do with one of two things...
Either they want a late release in the US to test waters around the world and work the bugs out.
Or VW is hesitant to commit to the gamble implied by the basic economics laid out in the first page of this thread.

Fact of the matter is... This car would indeed threaten the "GTI." Not the Golf line, but the GTI and over the past few years VW has put a great deal of effort into that car's pressence in the market. I doubt they want to be victims of their own success.

Play this smart and they will help their own image while also making money. Play this poorly and they'll end up lossing money.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> If Scirocco won't arrive in the US, well we have to deal with it. It will be another of those sweet cars that won't arrive here in the US along with BMW 130i M-sport 3-door, Civic Type-R, Focus ST, Audi RS4 Avant, etc.

-> God! I'm beginning to hate the North American market.