Friday, August 12, 2005

Volkswagen Confirms It Will Build Four-Door Coupe

Text from Inside Line.
DALLAS, Texas — Volkswagen has confirmed it will build several new niche models, including a four-door coupe similar in style to the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the forthcoming Porsche Panamera.

VW brand CEO Wolfgang Bernhard said the car will be positioned between the Passat and the Phaeton sedans, using the Passat platform. It will be available beginning in 2008, and is likely to be made alongside the Phaeton at VW's flagship luxury car plant in Dresden.

The coupe-sedan was announced at VW's annual North American dealer meeting in Dallas, Texas. Dealers were shown a picture of the as-yet unnamed car. Rumors in Germany suggest VW will revive the "Corrado" name for the car. The previous Corrado was a two-door coupe.

Bernhard announced three other new niche models. First is a Golf-based convertible with a retractable hardtop, to be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September. It will look like the Concept C concept car shown in Geneva 2004 and be named the Volkswagen Cabriolet.

Bernhard also confirmed VW would build a Golf-based SUV to compete with the Honda CR-V, rumored to be called the "Beduin." Also in the pipeline is an all-new seven-seat minivan, an evolution of the Microbus concept car shown several years ago. This will be an additional vehicle to VW's existing MPVs, the Touran and the Sharan.

More info:
Volkswagen unveils plans for four new vehicles...