Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 VW Scirocco
Volkswagen has made it categorically clear that the only reason it will not sell the recently unveiled Scirocco in the United States is because of the weak dollar. Bloomberg quotes VW's sales and marketing chief Detlef Wittig as saying, "The exchange rate is the only reason for not selling it in the U.S." Wittig goes on to say that the Scirocco would fit the U.S. market, which is arguable considering that VW already sells the Rabbit hatchback here in multiple forms, including GTI and R32 variants for the performance-minded enthusiast. But because of the weak buck, the point is moot since VW would make no money importing the Scirocco from the factory in Palmela, Portugal where it will be built alongside the Eos convertible.
Is all hope lost for those in the U.S. hoping to relive thier youths in a reborn Scirocco? Not quite, as the dollar will likely make a comeback against the euro at some point. Since no one is saying that it's likely to happen in the near future, VW also announced that it has begun scouting locations for a U.S. plant where it can build some of its cars free of the profit-sapping exchange rates. Perhaps then when we're building our own VWs in Alabama, Germany's largest automaker will decide to start selling the Scirocco in the U.S. Thanks for the tip, Mike!
[Source: Bloomberg]
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Alex Nunez @ Mar 5th 2008 5:02PM
Here's an idea: Eos, no. Scirocco, yes.
Tod @ Mar 5th 2008 5:18PM
How about both? I love my Eos, it is the greatest car I have ever owned. Hard top convertible with a sunroof..for under 40 grand. Only hardtop in the world at this point with both a sunroof and convertible. While I am sad that you folks will be denied a Scirocco, I am loving my Eos.
baronmunchin @ Mar 5th 2008 5:39PM
This is actually quite a beautiful car - I am a designer and this is a great design. Its a shame we may never see this car in USA I know quite a few people including myself who would purchase this car. The interior is damn perfect and Id love to see one in orange.
psarhjinian @ Mar 5th 2008 5:41PM
I'd say scrap the three-door GTI. Anyone who wants a practical-but-sporty car is going to buy the five-door, and anyone who bought the three-door would probably have picked the Scirocco if it was an option. Neither segment crosses over to the Eos.
Or they could jettison the New Beetle. Goodness know it's played out.
ugg.tryptophan @ Mar 6th 2008 12:19AM
@ psarhjinian How about VW not scrapping anything, the three door GTI is cooler than the five door, every GTI i see on the road is the three door
naggs @ Mar 6th 2008 8:25AM
how about no to both
gti > scirocco
Dave in MI @ Mar 5th 2008 5:11PM
Oh, wie schade!
Mattias @ Mar 6th 2008 4:35AM
Tja, dumm gelaufen.
Torrent @ Mar 5th 2008 5:13PM
I'm not surprised.
bob d @ Mar 5th 2008 5:14PM
Baloney. Porsche just took over VW. Porsche is all about profit. This car didn't make the profit margin that Porsche wants because it has to compete against the 350z, Vette, and other Japanese rockets. What a lousy excuse for their own failure to compete in the global market.
davido @ Mar 5th 2008 5:36PM
Baloney???
If VW spends Euros to build the car in Portugal, and the EURO is worth substantially more than the dollar (50% more at the moment), they'll have to overprice the car for this market or take a profit hit when they sell it here. Then, having done that, they have to convert the dollars we pay for it back to Euro's and take another hit.
Just because you don't understand exchange rates doesn't mean they're not an issue.
Val @ Mar 5th 2008 7:22PM
Exactly! Unlike Nissan and Chevrolet (GM), which are non-profit, charity foundations.
nagmashot @ Mar 6th 2008 1:27AM
@bob d
are you on drugs?
This car is way below the price of 350Z or Corvette ..the most powerfull version with 200hp is competition vs the Honda Civic SI Coupe. Based on the Euro selling price this car would be most likely a $ 18-20k car.
GTI Germany 25,850Euro incl VAT
GTI USA $22,000
Scirocco Germany 21,850Euro incl VAT
Scirocco USA ~$18-20k
J.Crew @ Mar 5th 2008 5:16PM
Here's to hoping that we up in Canada get this as our dollar is strong!
End User @ Mar 6th 2008 12:14AM
The Canadian $ is equal to the US $. I doubt the Scirocco will make it here.
J.Crew @ Mar 6th 2008 1:03AM
Yeah, but our market is also small car based unlike the US.
John P. @ Mar 5th 2008 5:16PM
Weak Dollar is the least of their worries. It's a Weak Design.
Jorge @ Mar 5th 2008 5:18PM
This one is going to be on sale here in Mexico, haha!!
bruno @ Mar 5th 2008 5:21PM
Not so sure.
1. I've read no evidence that the dollar will rebound vs the Euro. They're both debasing currencies, but the US is doing it faster.
2. Even if built in the US, many of the parts presumedly will have to be imported to assemble the car. Those are subject to the same exchange rate problem. Also the design costs and much of the other overhead of VW is in euros, not dollars.
3. Finally, profits in dollars are great, but they're worth less when the VW stockholders in Europe have to convert them back to Euros. I assume a lot of it is owned by Europeans.
zamafir @ Mar 5th 2008 5:30PM
yup yup and yup, the same reason we dont get the lupo or polo, not that it matters given the cold reception anything vw seems to receieve here on the comment section since all their products always break down, especially the newest ones.