Will VW Brazil Revive Classic SP2 for Home Market?

SP2 Photos

This SP2 concept might be an ideal retro project for Brazil's VW division. (Photo: Marcelo Rosa)

It looks even better at night in red. (Photo: Marcelo Rosa)

Original SP2 was a real head-turner. (Photo: Unknown)

Brazil is one of the most interesting car markets anywhere. Not only does the world’s fifth largest country enjoy a host of European models that North Americans could only dream of owning, plus many North American made cars, trucks and SUVs, but due to outrageous taxes on foreign goods it enjoys a thriving home-built car market filled with unique offerings only sold to its almost 200,000,000 strong population.

Try and get a Ford EcoSport outside of its borders, or a Volkswagen Gol or Voyage. They’re mega-sellers despite the fact that most of Brazil’s citizens can’t afford a new car, and now thanks to the economic downturn, can’t get financed for one even if they could buck up for the R$300 per month payment. Therefore the used market thrives, with oddball VW Brazilias fetching more than they’re worth and VW Combis (the old-style second-generation VW Van/Bus/Bulli) as ubiquitous as Honda Accords are on American roads (they still build the old-style air-cooled rear-engine Combi new). The custom, tuner and classic market is strong in Brazil too, with unique models designed for the Brazilian market like the Puma, which has trickled out of the country in years past, and the extremely stylish VW SP2.

Just why Volkswagen never saw the light to ramp up production and export the SP2 outside of Brazil is anyone’s guess, although it probably came up in meetings at the company’s Wolfsburg, Germany headquarters. It’s a beautiful car even now, albeit somewhat underpowered. Ideal for Sao Paulo’s congested highways and byways, however, the SP2 continues to be highly sought after by local collectors and fetches in the neighborhood of R$20,000 (about $9,000 USD) for a good quality example.

With such interest in the classic model and an all-new Scirocco hitting the streets as a potential donor car, it only makes sense that someone would put hand to mouse and create a revised version, in design at least. The artiste is Marcelo Rosa and his design doesn’t stray too far from the original, much like the way the new MINI pulls all of its cues from the old Mini but modernizes the look completely.

Whether or not a reborn SP2 (SP3?) would succeed in Brazil is anyone’s guess, although the fact that VW is the second largest automaker in this land, next to Fiat, would bode well for its chances and its price point, which would be much lower than anything imported, would allow a greater portion of Brazilians to consider a new sporty car. For the car to be priced correctly, however, it might have to ride on something more reasonable than the new Scirocco. Possibly a Golf (the Golf City is sold there simply under the Golf designation)? Brazilian sports car fans, keep your fingers crossed.