News has been confirmed that Volkswagen US will not be importing the gorgeous Scirocco.
What affect, if any, this has on Volkswagen Australia’s plans and hopes to bring the coupé down under remains to be seen. Like the US, it is currently believed the Scirocco doesn’t make business sense for VW as it would most likely take sales away from Golf hero, the GTI.
Whatever the beancounters say, I know one thing, a fan base exists in both countries that would ensure Sciroccos would sell. Maybe not in record numbers, but if Renault can bring in a limited release of 40 Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27s, then could Volkswagen Australia consider doing likewise?
While the Scirocco was launched in between the Golf V and Golf VI models, the car stands on it own and has the benefit of not being affected by new model syndrome. A mild curse which affected the limited release of 200 MkIV Golf R32s, which were on sale just months before the launch of the Golf V.
Australian readers will have to hang their hats on hope at this stage. Volkswagen Australia have not categorically ruled out the Scirocco, but things don’t look too promising, it has to be said. The best chance seems to the opportunity to bring in the Scirocco R20T (based on the Studie R), which could be revealed to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
[Source: autoblog]
5 replies on “No Scirocco love for the United States”
Austrlaia may not be a big market, but NZ is even smaller. Despite this the Scirocco went on sale there at the beginning of this month…
http://www.volkswagen.co.nz/publish/vwasia/new_zealand/en/models/scirocco.html
Damn Kiwis!
A Scirocco for NZ$10K more than a 118TSI Golf VI is reasonably attractive pricing too.
It’s just a matter of what comes first, the Golf VI GTI is going to sell in the USA despite the crisis, the Scirocco would eat out the profits and potential buyers for the GTI and it’s a reasonable decision to put the launch of that car on hold or to cancel it completely now. The market such as NZ, Australia or simmilar aren’t that big compared to the USA, and they have more of a buying tradition for small hatchbacks than the people over in the US naturally.
NZ market a little different from here in that they don’t have to worry about the expensive ADR compliance process. This means importers can still sell tiny volumes at a profit.
Wasn’t there rumblings of Australia switching to Euro compliance to put us in a similar position? ADR is absurd imo, surely if it’s good enough for Europe it’s good enough for here?
As far as I can tell it’s simply a non-tariff barrier maintained as a sop to the domestic industry. Bah humbug.