[Juballharshaw]

Motor Authority » VW America to launch six new models this year

Last year Volkswagen officials set an ambitious target to sell more than nine million vehicles worldwide by 2018, but with current levels hovering around the six million car mark VW will have to tackle the lucrative U.S. market if it has any hope of reaching its goal. Long term plans include building a new factory in North America to source cars locally as well as launching two new U.S. specific models suited to American tastes.

This plan will take several years at least to bear any fruit but VW has a more immediate solution in store. Officials plan to launch six new models Stateside over the next 12 months and all six cars will be backed up with extensive advertising campaigns to inform consumers about the new additions to the VW stable. The cars are likely to include the Jetta Sportwagon in March, Jetta TDI 50-state diesel and Tiguan SUV in May, and the Routan minivan, Touareg TDI and Passat CC sedan in fall, reports Automotive News.

VW’s attempt to launch the Passat CC sedan is being watched carefully, especially after their last failure in the luxury segment with the Phaeton which was often a victim of brand snobbery. An all-new Phaeton arriving in the U.S. is also a possibility but it won’t be ready until 2010 at the earliest.

Unless their brand quality rises a shitload, I think this may be a huge disappointment for VW. Then again, people still buy Chryslers and Fords.

[Jackalope]

the TDI series will probablyh do really well. I think diesel cars is an untapped market at the moment. There seems to be a high demand, but very few suppliers.

[smirnoff]

The Volkswagen Lupo can do near 80mpg... just a plain diesel.

I mean, I don't get it. It makes the Prius's 50mpg look like ancient history... a real fuel hog. It's a damn sight cheaper too. WHY IS THIS NOT IN AMERICA.... I would buy it.

[Mr. Ali]

umm, with diesel prices higher than premium unleaded and going higher, who in the right mind would buy diesel?

[Jackalope]

umm, with diesel prices higher than premium unleaded and going higher

and gas prices aren't going higher and higher? at least diesel gets better MPG, and it burns cleaner as well.


Let's not forget biodiesel...

[Scooby]

I could handle more TDI's

[Mr. Ali]

Originally Posted by Jackalope

and gas prices aren't going higher and higher? at least diesel gets better MPG, and it burns cleaner as well.


Let's not forget biodiesel...

i mean the margin between diesel prices and regular gas is growing.

[MSP]

And the nice thing about diesels is you can run bio-diesel, or convert to burn veggie oil.

But a VW minivan? I can't wait to see what that looks like.

[Juballharshaw]

Hopefully it's a little better than their last try: Volkswagen Eurovan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

I guess a minivan having style is like 50 Cent owning a poodle, sure it could happen but it's not very likely too.

[MSP]

All vans should go back to looking like this. They used to be cool...

[sims]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ali

i mean the margin between diesel prices and regular gas is growing.

it depends where you live. I pay less for diesel then regular gas(89 octane).