NEW YORK -- Volkswagen enthusiasts in this country missed out on the last generation of the sporty Scirocco coupe, but they might be in luck when the next version appears.
Jonathan Browning, CEO of VW Group of America, said in an interview at the New York auto show that he is lobbying to bring the Scirocco here.
"That's a piece of the lineup that I would dearly love to see here," Browning said.
He added that the current Scirocco came out in Europe in 2008 during the financial crisis, when there was little appetite to take a risk on bringing the car back to the United States. The Scirocco was last sold here in 1988.
A facelifted version of the Scirocco is due in Europe in 2013.
Browning and top marketer Tim Mahoney dropped a couple of other hints about VW lineup plans. Both pointed to the Alltrack concept on display at the VW stand, a mid-sized all-wheel-drive wagon with a diesel engine.
The vehicle would target the Subaru Outback, but with a twist. Mahoney said making it part of VW's diesel lineup would differentiate if from the Subaru.
Said Browning: "I think it would be a really good addition to our portfolio."
He added that VW's diesel models accounted for 23 percent of the brand's first-quarter sales. VW was surprised to see Passat diesel sales at 20 percent in March, exceeding expectations in that segment.
The other potential addition to the lineup: Both execs said they would like to see a mid-sized crossover, sliding in between the Touareg and the Tiguan.
