Volkswagen Future

Volkswagen will undoubltedly be a major automotive player in the not too-distant future. From Volkswagen's begginnings with the Beetle, one might expect the company to use a humble approach to making cars. This was true a long time ago, but today, the company is as modern as any, and has its sights set on new terretory.

The Volkswagen Scirocco, a revival VW nameplate which first surfaced at the 2006 Paris Motor Show in the form of the IROC Concept, has been the subject of much speculation since the concept debuted. These latest spyshots confirm that the IROC's large trapezoidal grille will make it onto the production car -- part of its outline can be seen through the heavy camouflage.
The hatchback shape of the rear belies the common designation of the Scirocco as a coupe - though the term has seemingly evolved into a catch-all for any car with a sharply sloped roof. A hardtop coupe/convertible built using hardware from the Eos is widely rumored to be the car's other variant.

Of course, the illustrations pictured of the coupe/convertible are still speculation based on the spied vehicle and available intel, but if proven accurate, foretell an aggressive and attractive-looking car.

Powertrain options are still up in the air as well. The much-maligned 2.5-liter inline-five probably won't see duty in the Scirocco, with the base engine in Europe likely to be the 1.4-liter Twincharger. A performance version powered by the automaker's ubiquitous 2.0-liter turbo four is probably in the plans, as well as numerous diesel powerplants.

The jury is still out on whether Volkswagen will sell the Scirocco stateside and in what form if it did. This Arizona-plated mule is a positive indication of a possible U.S. version, but the question of where the Scirocco fits into VW's lineup remains. Depending on the engine, the hatchback coupe would be muscling in on the territory of the Rabbit and GTI. The hardtop coupe/convertible is probably the easier sell in the U.S., as it could be marketed as a sportier and less feminine alternative to the Eos.

The hatchback is expected to go on sale in Europe sometime in 2008, likely as a 2009 model, with the coupe/convertible possibly arriving a year later.

Volkswagen looks to be one of the leaders when it comes to innovative cars of the future.