Forbidden Fruit: need to the Volkswagen Scirocco R come back to America?

I'm lay outside of a preferred West Hollywood restaurant, sitting inside the sole Volkswagen Scirocco R in America. It's 6:43 a.m. on a Sat morning. Having simply taken a number of sunrise photos with this VW enthusiast's delight, i am currently at the same time sipping java and scrolling my Instagram feed once I see him, frantically approaching the automobile, indicating he needs American state to place the window down. Normally, i would advise against obliging him, however these days I do, as a result of I might simply be this guy. "Is it coming back? square measure they finally aiming to do it? Is it coming to America?" this is often a learned man. A priest-doctor of European cars, maybe. For the final public here, "Scirocco" may sound just like the name of a race horse, or an organization specializing in small-batch biscotti, or perhaps a replacement worrisome form of malware. And to be truthful, this hot hatch is fast, pretty sweet, and to a small degree ugly. except for enthusiasts and people within the grasp, it is a 265-hp front-wheel drive three-door hatchback, appearance badass, and is extremely a lot of temptation for Americans.

But the question I hear plenty is: Why? Why does not Volkswagen bring it to America? The short answer from VW product planners is that it does not create monetary sense. however why not? Is there truly a business case for transferral the Scirocco R to America? we tend to break it down.

Why Volkswagen ought to Bring the Scirocco R to America

Currently, if you would like associate degree enthusiast hatch with a Vee-Dub badge on that within the U.S., it's going to are available one in every of 2 flavors: there is the classic Volkswagen GTI, power-driven by a a pair of.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pushes two hundred power unit to the front wheels, or the Volkswagen Golf R, that ups power to 256 power unit--European versions of every have ten hp a lot of, respectively--and employs a really smart all-wheel drive system. each square measure jazzy, sound nice, and square measure simple to measure with throughout the week, as well. however the Scirocco turns the styling dial up a number of notches toward "aggressive." The facet skirts widen, and therefore the wide buttocks appearance particularly putting from a fractional angle. together friend aforesaid, i might obtain one supported the appearance alone. within the setup is acquainted, however with deeper bucket seats, and a a lot of pronounced exhaust note. If sold  here, this might clearly be the sport-hatch halo, with its aggressive appearance border out the Golf R's AWD advantage.

Why It does not be

Volkswagen USA product planners have long aforesaid it might be too expensive  to bring the Scirocco to America, stating that it might price "millions" to form the engine compliant for U.S. emissions. Considering it might be priced most equally to the Golf R--a automobile that has sold  five,500 units within the past year and a half--you might see why VW would be disturbed regarding recouping that cost; thought models just like the Jetta and Passat sell that several units in regarding a pair of weeks. Take into thought too that each automobile has got to be crash tested, which means a number of putting to death lambs can meet the yard early. It presently becomes apparent that whereas the Scirocco might excite the hardcore enthusiasts, it might be a expensive, unprofitable venture. Another friend asked regarding putting associate degree existing, already certified and on sale engine into the Scirocco body. an excellent question, once you admit it. The Golf R and Scirocco create constant power in Europe, and that we have already got a U.S.-spec Golf R here in America. cannot you place that a pair of.0-liter turbo in to the Scirocco, and tune it for a front-wheel drive car? and that we continuously hear however the GTI engine is capable of {much a lot of|far more|rather more|way more} power; could not it simply get retuned for more H.P., serving to to differentiate the 2 models? whereas in theory that may appear sensible, all engines need to be certified for every model, though they are already in associate degree existing automobile. therefore whereas taking the VW GTI or Golf R engine and fitting it into the Scirocco engine bay looks like wisdom, there is still the certification prices. 

Not to be forgotten is that the concern of cannibalization. Volkswagen conceded that there was a concern that the Scirocco would bite into three-door GTI sales if sold  here within the U.S. In Europe, Volkswagen is that the largest auto manufacturer, and enjoys a healthy twelve.7 % market share. That interprets to plenty of sales, and therefore the ability to sell a lot of models. In the U.S. in contrast, VW presently holds a a pair of.7 % market share. whereas growing, it still has got to proceed with caution, and not jeopardize sales of fortunate models like the GTI. Lastly, the Volkswagen Scirocco R is made on this Golf design. however Volkswagen has already discharged its next-gen Volkswagen MK-VII model in Europe, one supported associate degree all-new design dubbed MQB. The advantage is that over time, up to forty cars at intervals the VW Group--for brands like Volkswagen, Audi, and even those not sold  within the U.S. like Seat and Skoda--will be victimisation several of constant components and technology. it'll offer associate degree economy of scale that in theory ought to create the auto manufacturer a lot of competitive. and therefore the next Volkswagen Golf, GTI, and Golf R can all be inward within the U.S. beginning during a matter of months, engineered on the new MQB. therefore for the Scirocco to arrive subsequently, and on previous design, would not be.

Will we tend to Ever See the Scirocco within the U.S.?

It's doable, however not for consequent many years. consequent Scirocco, engineered on the MQB design, will not arrive in Europe for a minimum of another number of years. attach another 2-3 years till we tend to might within theory see it in the U.S., and you get the concept. however Volkswagen enthusiasts have masses to be excited regarding. The new GTI is lighter, and can increase power to 210 power unit for base models, and can for the primary time feature a performance version that bumps that figure to 220 power unit. there is a chance we tend to might see the diesel power-driven GTI--the Volkswagen GTD--in America moreover. we tend to got an opportunity to check that automobile earlier this summer, and located it offered a jazzy, higher-mileage different to the GTI. and at last, consequent Golf R can arrive in 2015 if all goes in step with set up. once it will arrive, it'll be packing 285 power unit, a twenty power unit advantage on this Scirocco, to not mention the all-wheel-drive issue. therefore whereas it does not be for VW to sell the Scirocco R in America, enthusiasts have plenty to seem forward to. and there is still hope that Volkswagen might bring the next-gen Scirocco to those shores, with a doable surprise debut in 2018 (give or take a year). And if that looks like too long, it should be time to dirt off that passport.