VW May Finally Bring the Scirocco to the U.S.!

Earlier this year VW execs stated that the Scirocco was not going to make it to the U.S. due to the declining dollar and the fact that it could cannibalize sales of the GTI. Well now it looks like the automaker is reconsidering it.

Apparently the outcry from Scirocco enthusiasts and the popularity of the car in Europe has forced VW to reconsider bringing the Scirocco to the U.S.

A final decision has not been made, but if VW can figure out how to position it so that it doesn't steal GTI sales they should bring it!

Related posts:

• Edmunds Reminds Us to Always Do Our Homework
• To The Woman Sitting Behind Rick Wagoner at the House Financial Services Committee Hearing... [Carpocalypse Now]
• Ford in a Bind
• Checking your cars computer goes self-serve with SAM Kiosks
• U.S. Auto Sales Lag China’s for Third Month in a Row

Related posts:

• 2009 Ford Focus Coupe Unveiled...Ford Tweaks the Yet Focus Again
• 2010 Peugeot 3008
• Luxury automakers could get partial exemption from CO2 rules
• Toyota New TF109 Race Car
• Maserati GranSport Spyder

1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia [Down On The Street]

Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. When we had the quasi-abandoned '70 Karmann Ghia last month, I got a flood of emails from rusty-state readers who were aghast that such a rare car would be allowed to go to The Crusher. Thing is, Karmann Ghias aren't at all rare around here; I've been passing today's car- which is located just a few blocks from my house- for months and months, figuring I'd get around to shooting it one of these days. And here it is!

This one might not be a '74, but the bumpers place it somewhere in the Malaise Era. It's a Beetle under the skin, but for some crazy reason the sporty Karmann Ghia actually weighs more than the utilitarian Beetle: 1,919 versus 1,831 pounds. Both cars got the 46-horsepower 1600 engine. Yes, US emission-control regulations were tough on the air-cooled VW.


The price tag on the Karmann Ghia was pretty nice for a convertible: $3,935. Still, that was 10 bucks more than the 78.5-horse '74 MGB, and $970 more than a Triumph Spitfire. Wait, was the Spitfire really that cheap, or is the Standard Catalog mistaken?

First 350 DOTS Vehicles • DOTS FAQ

Related posts:

• Which Automaker Has Had the Most Recalled 2007 Models? You Might be Surprised
• The VW R GTI Concept: Design that Moves
• Chrysler decides to keep third shift at Windsor minivan plant, VW Routan to live on
• T he GreatRobot Race on PBS last night the entire enterprise has taken ...
• Hyundai Equus Coming to the U.S., But Will It Sell?

Related posts:

• 2011 McLaren P11
• Detroit Auto Show Diversions
• The only positive note for the 2009 model year is the introduction of a ...
• Novitec Rosso Ferrari Scuderia 16M: Better & Faster
• Commenter Of The Day: Carey Loftin Edition [Commenter Of The Day]

Volkswagen: Celebrating the 70th birthday of Ferdinand Piëch

If you think about Volkswagen, you also have to think Ferdinand Piëch. This name is associated with Volkswagen. He's now celebrating his 70th birthday. Congratulations! Check out his story by following to our source article. A very intersting read!Prof. Dr. h.c. Ferdinand K. Piëch celebrates his 70th birthday on April 17, but his passion for cars rules out any thought of retirement. Following

Related posts:

• Volkswagen Brazil announces the refreshed global Gol
• Which Automaker Has Had the Most Recalled 2007 Models? You Might be Surprised
• The VW R GTI Concept: Design that Moves
• Chrysler decides to keep third shift at Windsor minivan plant, VW Routan to live on
• VW Debuts R GTI Concept at SEMA

Related posts:

• Volkswagen Concept BlueSport
• Volkswagen Golf to replace VW Rabbit in US Market
• Are BMW and Volkswagen killing the V8?
• RDX RACEDESIGN Volkswagen Golf VI
• Volkswagen Space Up! Concept Revealed

VW Debuts R GTI Concept at SEMA

Last year, Volkswagen unveiled some very cool, very high-powered in-house performance variants of their Jetta, Passat and Touareg with a simple R badge. These were some cool-looking concepts that led many to think that VW would offer them in limited numbers. Alas, it never happened. So we’re a bit dismayed to be teased once again this year by a great looking, amped up VW, this time called the R GTI.

The new GTI by itself is a great performer. Add on a more powerful turbocharger to the stock car and somehow VW and partner APR wrangle 375 hp out of the hot hatchback. There are much larger tires and wheels — 19-inch at that — and a limited slip-differential to get all the power to the road, while Brembo brakes help stop the sucker. A much larger intercooler is needed for the turbo and that led to a change in the grille design that makes the GTI look pretty mean. 

The GTI will probably never see these treatments at the factory but because VW used major aftermarket manufacturers and parts a few VW fanatics could probably replicate this in their own garage. We expect VW to develop an R version of the GTI as either a R32 or R36. Those are likely to feature a V-6 and not a turbo four-cylinder, but we’re hoping for the R GTI’s front end to make the transition regardless. 

Related posts:

• Which Automaker Has Had the Most Recalled 2007 Models? You Might be Surprised
• Chrysler decides to keep third shift at Windsor minivan plant, VW Routan to live on
• The VW R GTI Concept: Design that Moves
• VW Looks to Improve Owner Loyalty
• Volkswagen Brazil announces the refreshed global Gol

Related posts:

• Volkswagen Scirocco
• Volkswagen Concept BlueSport
• Volkswagen Golf to replace VW Rabbit in US Market
• More on VW's Fahrenheit Special Editions
• VW Passes Exxon As World's Largest Company By Market Cap [VW Is Bigger Than Big Oil]

VW Looks to Improve Owner Loyalty

Volkswagen may be hip, but its owners don’t seem to stick around for a second purchase. The company is pushing to raise its owner retention, which is at a dismal 29.3%; the industry average is 49.6%. That means people that buy VWs aren’t coming back, for a variety of reasons. Some experts say it’s the company’s poor reliability combined with a lull in new products during the late 1990s and early 2000s that has led the current situation.

How will the company fight back? It seems a new website and more owner-oriented events like a recent enthusiast rally in New Jersey are the main weapons in VW’s marketing arsenal. We’d guess that improving reliability and offering more products that fit the VW image would work better, but that’s just us.

[Lusting for Loyalty, AutoWeek]

Related posts:

• T he GreatRobot Race on PBS last night the entire enterprise has taken ...
• Which Automaker Has Had the Most Recalled 2007 Models? You Might be Surprised
• Paris Motor Show: What You Won't See Crossing the Pond
• Chrysler decides to keep third shift at Windsor minivan plant, VW Routan to live on
• The VW R GTI Concept: Design that Moves

Related posts:

• Volkswagen undergoes name change
• The BMW 3-series competes with the Audi A4.
• More detailed info on the production Volkswagen Up!
• Volkswagen CC: Comfortably Classy
• Volkswagen Scirocco