VW Scirocco: Will They Or Won't They?

Iroc Photos

If they keep the car true to the concept, there's no confusing it with the GTI. (Photo: Volkswagen)

VW could easily position the Scirocco as an upscale vehicle or a sort of technological innovator. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Some good news: Volkswagen may reconsider its initial decision about the Scirocco. IROC Concept is pictured. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Last week, news surfaced stating that despite being headed for the assemblyline, Volkswagen of America would not be getting the Scirocco. Adrian Hallmark, Vice President of Volkswagen of America said to Automotive News that VW of America didn’t want it, saying, “… having six different coupes and hatchbacks would be crazy.” He also cites the fact that demand for hatchbacks is low on this continent when compared to Europe, and that the performance-oriented Scirocco would cannibalize GTI sales. But like the weather, it’s almost impossible to forecast what’s going to happen next in this business.

This week, we’re hearing that Hallmark’s remarks might not be the final word in the Scirocco story. Hans-Gerd Bode, a spokesperson from Volkswagen told Autoweek magazine that the decision on whether or not the Scirocco will be sold in North America isn’t up to Volkswagen of America, but the overseer of operations, VW of Germany. It appears that therubber stamp of approval will go through Volkswagen’s CEO, Dr. Martin Winterkorn.

Given that the IROC Concept and the Mk.V GTI and company share many of the same components, the turnaround time for development is expected to be short. Like the concept vehicle, not to mention the original Scirocco and Rabbit/GTI, the two cars will ride on the same chassis and sport the same suspension. It’s very likely that they will both feature the 2.0-liter FSI-Turbo used in the GTI, however. Autoweek’s magical looking glass predicts that the production Scirocco will debut at next year’s Geneva show in the spring, with a final decision to be made no later than 2008. The car would arrive in port by the end of 2008 as a 2009 model year product.

To us, Hallmark’s initial remarks sounded a little off. Yes, Volkswagen has alarge number of compact cars on the same chassis, but the IROC is so different in bodystyle and character that we don’t see it as a sales threat to the GTI. With its low roofline, coupe-like shape and wide stance, it looks much less like a conventional hatchback. After all, it wasn’t too long ago that Volkswagen’s product range included the Scirocco and the GTI.

Besides, Volkswagen could position the Scirocco differently than the GTI in order to differentiate it, and attract new customers to the brand. VW could market the Scirocco as an upscale product with high-end features. On the other hand, it could also be a showcase for Volkswagen’s latest technologies. Some have suggested that it would be the perfect vehicle to debut the brand’s amazing TSI Twincharger engine to the North American market. After all, no other manufacturer has the ability to say they make a car that has both a supercharger and turbocharger. There’s also VW’s brand new 7-speed DSG gearbox, which recently debuted in Europe.

Put it all together, and we think there’s still plenty of life left in the Scirocco for North America.