Volkswagen Scirocco not coming to USA

Volkswagen brought a very bad news today: the Scirocco sport hatchback won’t be available in the USA. The new model will go on sale in Europe next year.

Adrian Hallmark, executive vice president of Volkswagen of America said that even the new model is inspired by the 1974-1982 model, they do not want the 2008 Scirocco in the USA.

Despite the old Scirocco coupe’s cult following in the United States, the new Scirocco would detract from sales of the GTI hatchback. Both cars are based on the platform for the Golf, which has been renamed the Rabbit in the United States. "The GTI is iconic — it’s as strong a name as the Beetle," Hallmark says. "It is economically suicidal for us to risk the sales volume and the potential for GTI."

The Scirocco has the same engine, chassis and suspension as the GTI, except that it has been lowered, according to Hallmark. Another drawback is the hatchback body style, which is not popular in the United States, Hallmark says.