There's an interesting juxtaposition in today's news about the forthcoming VW Golf. Motor Authority reports that Volkswagens sixth-generation Golf will offer standard stop-start technology in its efficiency-oriented Bluemotion versions. VW director of powertrain research Wolfgang Steiger reveals that the the Bluemotion is shooting for a 30 percent gain in efficiency, begging the question of whether Bluemotion trim will bring a hybrid drivetrain to the table. VW has reportedly ditched diesel-hybrid plans for a cheaper gas-electric unit. But Steiger only mentions a new range of 1.0 and 1.2-liter compact gas engines, with a possible forced-induction three-cylinder in the works. Either way, it's all a bit academic. Future US-market Rabbits will be developed separately, on cheaper platforms. Which is funny, because Auto Motor und Sport reports that the new "too-pricy-for-the-states" Golf costs nearly $2k less to produce than the outgoing model. Even with rising steel prices and a strong Euro, VW has managed to realize savings by reducing material costs, increasing volume and producing on a four-day work week. So, despite reducing the cost of building the new Golf, VW will be challenging Toyota in the US market with an even cheaper replacement for the Rabbit? With the diesel Jetta already behind the Prius curve, VW should bite the bullet and bring the Euro-Golf stateside, and proliferate stop-start across its US model line. Or give up its goal of taking on Toyota NA for volume sales.
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….and this is why I can’t bring myself to ever buy a VW (and almost Audi too). This just confirms what my stellar 2 years of high school German and internet access have shown me for years. VW keeps the better designs for the homeland and FU North America!
If I wanted to buy a car from a company that looked down on me, as a customer I’d get a GM – or a least a place on the local Prius waiting list.
WSJ concurs with the cost savings: $1600/1000 euros.
I’m getting awfully tired of the best technology always being kept on the European side of the pond, with not even a sweet f*&#-all for the American (and Canadian) drivers who want a better car than the dumbed-down ‘North American’ versions.
Dumber engines, fewer gears, softer springs: these are not the paths to customer loyalty.
I’m with MikeInCanada on this one.
It will always come down to the fact that americans, as a whole, are not willing to pay for quality. If so, the europeans would be shuffling cars like Ford has been shuffling F-150’s.
VW continues to make itself irrelevant in the US. Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are laughing all the way to the bank.
…give up its goal of taking on Toyota NA for volume sales.
Really – this was a goal of theirs? Wow – they might have worse management than the biggish 2.5.
Serious – I mean look at the product planning decisions:
– VW Van – borrowed Chrysler
– Scirroco – not for you
– Diesel – pay a premium at the dealership and the pump – what a brilliant idea
– Passat – quality is job… er… have you seen the new vinyl seats?
But wait… we are bringing a truck! Come back – have you seen the nostalgia-till-you’re-nauseous New Beetle – no you can’t have that in a diesel, but it is soooo retro that it too has vinyl.
Oh – and when we have time we are going to cannibalize Audi sales :)
The diesel hybrid is dead in the water until somebody figures out the pollution issues. Even with the gas you can’t let the CAT get cold or emmissions go through the roof. The hybrid will work but it is a learning experience.
In my opinion forced induction engines don’t really help fuel efficiency because you have to keep that turbo spooling to get some smooth torque out of it. The real benefit is just a lighter engine.
I have an ’04 Passat Turbo. It sports an annoying(lack of) throttle response on the drive-by-wire/ turbo system. Hopefully VW can fix that especially as they combine that with stop-start technology. I am curious though how a 1-liter 3-cylinder engine will pull that car off a standing start up a hill, a/c on. …that’s probably why that design won’t make it to the states..IMHO.
i do hope that they bring over the euro golf so i have a valid replacement for my MKV GTI which i looooove. But Ingvar is correct when he says that Americans won’t pay a premium for a better product. How many cavaliers do you see vs. rabbits! People here settle for the “cheapest” option. Dollar menu anyone?
I like that Golf. It looks a lot like the Mark IV generation, just slightly updated. I’m not a fan of the current “Rabbit” or the current Jetta design. If VW was smart in the US, they would offer the City Golf that’s sold in Canada as their entry model vehicle. But that’s assuming VWoA executives were to get a clue. Not likely to happen any time soon. Their goal of competing with Toyota by 2018 is still hilarious to me. Everyone but VW knows it’s not going to happen, at least not when we keep getting screwed on the good stuff that Europe gets.
Ingvar :
June 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
“It will always come down to the fact that americans, as a whole, are not willing to pay for quality.”
That would be news to Mercedes Benz whose two largest volume dealers in the world are located in Orange County California.
Start/stop technology is cheap and easily implemented. It should be slapped on to everything ASAP.
“It will always come down to the fact that americans, as a whole, are not willing to pay for quality.”
That’s something you can explain to Toyota. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be where they are today.
VW is NOT Toyota, nor will it ever match Toyota’s sales figures. They should stop trying and come to grips with their place in the US marketplace. Perhaps then they can focus on doing what they do best.
VW has done well selling two kinds of cars in the US. The cheap and simple (old beetle), and the value conscious german import car (their existing line up in good years, and the diesels).
Most people cannot fix their cars these days because they are no longer simple. So reliability means more. Reliability is also important to the value equation.
I would say that they would do better to upgrade the Golf and Jetta back to the point that people who want a european driving experience at a lower cost will buy them again. Bring over a lower end hatch stripper to go after the value buyers if you think it will make you money). The other formula might be to keep the Golf and Jetta cheap, but bring over the euro versions in another form (GTI/GLI, another name altogether, etc.)
They will never get back to selling Passats without fixing the reliability thing. Never.
Edit: And lastly, mxfive4 nailed it pretty well on his post.
Put me in the camp with ingvar and blankfocus, what company sells its best products in the US market? Reference C2 Euro Focus vs ADM warmover.
Also, quality reliability. Americans (in general) don’t want any new technology. This extends beyond automobiles into cell phone, electronics, drugs, anything really. American market == cheap and safe sell. The mass market is not willing to pay more and the litigious culture makes it suicide to take chances here.