VW cuts capital spending plans

[Tallguy]

I see VW unsurprisingly are cutting back capital spending. It will be a real shame if the Scirocco does not get the major update it needs to keep it competitive over the coming years.
Clearly high volume cars like the Golf will get priority in terms of development funds now and I wonder if say a coupe version of the Golf will take over the Scirocco's place in the VW line-up with the Portugal factory closing as production lines are rationalised to save money?
Sorry to sound gloomy but whilst I am sure VW will survive they will be forced to slim down in future with a slimmer
model range.

[moulin12]

I see VW unsurprisingly are cutting back capital spending. It will be a real shame if the Scirocco does not get the major update it needs to keep it competitive over the coming years.
Clearly high volume cars like the Golf will get priority in terms of development funds now and I wonder if say a coupe version of the Golf will take over the Scirocco's place in the VW line-up with the Portugal factory closing as production lines are rationalised to save money?
Sorry to sound gloomy but whilst I am sure VW will survive they will be forced to slim down in future with a slimmer
model range.

Maybe not. With much of the Scirocco being Golf or other parts bin (e.g. Passat axle) and with all new models now built on the MQB platform, it might remain economical to market a new Scirocco. Regards individual factory closures, while tooling up costs matter, what matters more is the productivity of the individual plant, and which is where the investment will follow.

On the other hand, welcome to the Golf Coupe....

[Cuprabob]

I see VW unsurprisingly are cutting back capital spending. It will be a real shame if the Scirocco does not get the major update it needs to keep it competitive over the coming years.
Clearly high volume cars like the Golf will get priority in terms of development funds now and I wonder if say a coupe version of the Golf will take over the Scirocco's place in the VW line-up with the Portugal factory closing as production lines are rationalised to save money?
Sorry to sound gloomy but whilst I am sure VW will survive they will be forced to slim down in future with a slimmer
model range.

Maybe not. With much of the Scirocco being Golf or other parts bin (e.g. Passat axle) and with all new models now built on the MQB platform, it might remain economical to market a new Scirocco. Regards individual factory closures, while tooling up costs matter, what matters more is the productivity of the individual plant, and which is where the investment will follow.

On the other hand, welcome to the Golf Coupe....

...or in fact the Golf CC

[blower]

A fair few cars in the VW range are still on the golf mk6 platform:

-Sharan
-Beetle
-Jetta
-Golf cabriolet
-CC
and of course the scirocco

Seems that barring the jetta - all the above cars have an unusual chassis wider, longer, or just plain different shape altogether. Its probably whats holding them back from going over to MQB platform. MQB maybe modular but it still has to have chassis sections designed for it with cars like these along with whole new shells and interior fitting parts which will be unique to that car.
All that means cost, and the above cars don't sell in anywhere near the volume as the golf & passats - and with cash now being tight, unless the scirocco was already going through the stages of being moved to the MQB platform, don't expect it to do so any time soon.

[bitmadmax]

On the plus side, if they slow down development of the Scirocco, it means you will have the newest shape car for longer

[Tallguy]

The design of the Scirocco still looks great after 7 years which says VW got it right in the first place. However the car will need new underpinnings fairly soon to keep it competitive. I now drive a coupe based on the MQB platform and it's handling is certainly better.
I suppose VW could decide not to go for a major update and just keep the price down to maintain sales?