Production versions of the Volkswagen BlueSport sports car and the Volkswagen Bulli retro MPV concept remain on ice, as the firm instead seeks to increase its presence in fast-growing SUV segments.
Speaking at the Paris motor show, VW’s R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg said VW needs to develop more SUVs, with the supermini-SUV segment – populated by the likes of the Mini Countryman and Nissan Juke – one particular market the firm needs to have a presence in.
The launch of such a model is likely in 2014, Hackenberg hinted. It will be based on VW’s new MQB platform and use the new petrol and diesel engines VW has developed for the architecture.
On the BlueSport, Hackenberg said the car was effectively ready for production, but it will not be in showrooms anytime soon as VW has not been able to make a business case for it.
“The segment is falling if anything,” said Hackenberg. “I don’t want to go to the board now with it as a rejection would kill it off completely. If we can make a business case for it, it can be put into production quite quickly. But if we make the proposal now, it dies."
The lack of a business case was also preventing the Bulli concept, first seen at last year’s Geneva motor show, from going any further. “It’s on ice,” said Hackenberg. “We didn’t find a market for it. There is no business case.”
The same goes for a Polo coupe, something that was also previewed at last year’s Geneva show with a Giugiaro-penned concept.
