VW: Mid-sized crossover to join U.S. lineup

As the Volkswagen brand strives to sell 800,000 vehicles in the United States by 2018 -- up from a projected 420,000 this year -- the focus will be the U.S.-made Passat sedan and the Mexico-built Jetta sedan and Beetle coupe and convertible.

VW will add a crossover larger than the compact Tiguan that likely will be produced in Chattanooga.

And it likely will try again with the Phaeton luxury sedan, but will price the flagship well below $70,000 to avoid the earlier Phaeton's flop a few years ago. That car was pulled from the United States in 2006 because of slow sales, attributed in part to a $65,000 price tag that topped $100,000 with the 12-cylinder engine.

Polo: The European subcompact isn't scheduled to come to the United States, but top management says the Polo could be engineered quickly to U.S. specifications if needed.

Beetle: The turbodiesel version went on sale last month. The redesigned convertible goes on sale in December.

Golf: The redesigned Golf will be shown this month at the Paris auto show and will go on sale in the United States in 2014. The seventh-generation Golf will be longer, wider and lower than the current model, but about 220 pounds lighter. The compact is the first VW brand vehicle to use VW Group's new MQB modular platform.

A plug-in electric version will go on sale next year, based on the new Golf. Initially, the electric model will be sold in specific markets such as California before going national. A plug-in hybrid version is expected in 2015.

The United States will not get a convertible version of the high-performance R model that debuted here in early 2012.

Scirocco: The Golf-based sporty car may come to the United States when it is redesigned in about 2016.

Eos: No changes are expected for the next few years. There are reports that VW will drop this Golf-based hardtop convertible in 2014 or 2015 and replace it with a convertible based on the European Passat that is not sold in the United States. No word on whether that car, if approved, would be sold here.

Jetta: The Jetta sedan will be redesigned in 2015 or 2016. Meanwhile, a hybrid version of the sedan goes on sale in November with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that generates 150 hp and an electric motor that adds 27 hp.

The SportWagen station wagon will be redesigned in 2014 or 2015. According to reports, VW is considering an Alltrack crossover model with a beefier suspension and optional all-wheel drive.

BlueSport: The midengine two-seat roadster hasn't been approved for production but according to reports, VW could give it a green light for 2014. Still, executives are unsure whether they could achieve the necessary volume in the United States.

Passat: The U.S.-built four-door sedan likely will be freshened in 2014.

CC: The coupe-styled four-door sedan will be redesigned in 2015.

Phaeton: VW's U.S. executives say the luxury sedan could return to the United States, but have not given a date. The Phaeton was killed in the United States six years ago because of the car's high price. The 12-cylinder model topped $100,000.

A redesigned Phaeton is expected in Europe in 2015 based on the VW Group's modular longitudinal architecture.

Volkswagen’s futuristic XL1 plug-in hybrid could come to the United States in 2013. It can be driven 22 miles on battery power.

XL1: The futuristic plug-in hybrid has been approved for limited production, according to press reports. The two-seater is powered by a lithium ion battery pack, an electric motor and a two-cylinder diesel engine. The XL1 can be driven 22 miles on battery power. VW has said the car could come to the United States and other markets in 2013.

Tiguan: A redesign of the compact crossover, due in 2014, is expected to result in a larger Tiguan with an optional third row of seats.

In 2015 or 2016, VW may add a coupelike version to compete with the Range Rover Evoque. It would be based on the Cross Coupe concept that debuted at this year's Geneva auto show.

Touareg: The SUV will be freshened in 2013. A redesign is due in 2016, using the VW Group's new large SUV platform, called the PL73. The same platform will underpin the next-generation Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and new vehicles for Bentley and Lamborghini.

Mid-sized crossover: VW wants a vehicle larger than the Tiguan and with three rows of seats to compete with the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. The crossover would be priced below the slow-selling Touareg, would probably be built in Chattanooga and could go on sale as early as 2014.

Routan: The slow-selling minivan based on the Chrysler Town & Country and built by the Chrysler Group is likely to be axed by 2014 and replaced by the VW seven-seat mid-sized crossover.

Bulli: The Microbus-inspired four-door wagon concept could go into production in 2014 or 2015 and would come to the United States. It likely would be stretched to accommodate three rows of seats. The concept vehicle had two rows of seats.