QOTD: Volkswagen Golf GTD Looking Less Likely For America – Is The Audi A3 To Blame?

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Despite promises of the Volkswagen Golf GTD making its way to America, Automotive News is reporting that the prospect of VW’s diesel hot hatch arriving in America is looking like a dim prospect.

According to AN, the high output version of VW’s 2.0L TDI engine can’t be built in Volkswagen’s Mexican factory that supplies the engines for Golf in North America (though it does build the standard TDI engine). Although VW wouldn’t elaborate, the cost of the GTD (factoring in the engine, which would have to be imported from Germany), would make the GTD cost prohibitive for North America.

On the other hand, VW will have no less than three additional hatchbacks for North America: a lower priced version of the Golf TDI, a TDI Golf Sportwagen and the Audi A3 TDI Sportback. Given the small market share for diesels, it’s possible that Volkswagen is satisfied that these models will sufficiently cover the diesel hatchback market in America.

Previous, VW was projecting that the GTD would account for as much as 10 percent of Golf TDI sales. But it’s possible that VW was scared off by a last-minute product plan change over at Audi. The A3 TDI Sportback wasn’t initially planned for America, but enthusiast demand apparently spurred Audi to import it to America.

The A3 TDI will likely run close to the GTD’s projected $27,000 price tag – close enough that VW may have been worried about cannibalization between the two cars. Unlike Europe, America has neither the demand for diesels, hatchbacks or manuals (the A3 TDI is only offered with a dual-clutch transmission) to support two similarly priced entrants with little differentiation.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Mnm4ever Mnm4ever on Apr 17, 2014

    I can't say I am all that surprised, VW has a long history of slightly missing the mark on product. The A3 would probably be perfect for most target GTD buyers if they would just offer a manual, I cannot fathom why they don't do that. But really, the regular TDI with the sport suspension is likely a better choice than the GTD anyway. It's cheaper and works better on our less than perfect roads. And those who want GTI or better level of handling can easily swap out the springs and dampers, there are plenty of tuning options to get a little more power out of the TDI and most of those even improve the MPG as well.

  • Pch101 Pch101 on Apr 17, 2014

    US Golf sales are miserably low and on the decline. YTD sales for the entire Golf lineup (Golf/R/GTI) are less than 5400 units, a decline of 37% over the prior year. (In comparison, the overall vehicle market grew by 1% over the same period.) A GTD would merely cannibalize GTI and Jetta TDi sales. It was never a good idea, and this year's numbers make the plan look even worse -- investing in more hatchbacks for the US market is not a particularly bright idea.

    • See 1 previous
    • Jimal Jimal on Apr 17, 2014

      Part of the problem with the Golf lineup - apart from Americans despising hatchbacks - is pricing, particularly on the lease side of things. You can get a similarly equipped Jetta or Passat for less.

  • Doublechili Doublechili on Apr 17, 2014

    This news kinda makes one wonder whether we will in fact see the Sportwagen with TDI, AWD and MT.

  • Seth1065 Seth1065 on Apr 17, 2014

    My guess is 2 out of 3 with AWD not making it in the next sports wagon

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