Back in the 1970s, Volkswagen unveiled the Volkswagen Scirocco, a front-engined, front-wheel drive replacement for the aging rear-engined, rear-wheel drive Karmann Ghia coupe.
It sold in the U.S. until 1998, ceasing production entirely in 1992 before being reborn as a Volkswagen’s European flagship compact sports car in 2008.
Now Jonathan Browning, Volkswagen’s U.S. chief, wants to bring the sporty compact to the U.S. So much so, he’s taken to lobbying his colleagues at VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany to make it happen.
According to Automotive News, (via Motor Authority) Browning isn’t shy about his passion for the Volkswagen Golf-derived coupe.
2012 Golf R
“That’s a piece of the lineup that I would dearly love to see here,” he said, but warned that the U.S. market is unlikely to find the current generation of the Scirocco appetizing enough.
In 2013 Volkswagen will unveil the next-generation Scirocco, which will be based on the same MQB platform as the upcoming 2013 Volkswagen Golf.
As a consequence, we imagine a U.S. market 2014 Scirocco could easily inherit the high-power, high-gas mileage 1.4-liter turbocharged engine slated for the next-generation Golf.
But since it will be based on the MQB platform, any number of drivetrain possibilities are theoretically possible, from all-electric through to plug-in hybrid and even a torquey yet high gas-mileage diesel.
With U.S. car-buyers looking towards ever smaller cars, we think a U.S. market Scirocco would make an excellent addition to the market already inhabited by the Honda CR-Z, and Mini Coupe, but what do you think?
Do you think American drivers will want the sporty Scirocco, or are they content with the sporty Golf R?
Let us know in the Comments below.
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