Marketing: How VW Can Sell a new GTI, Corrado and Audi A3 in the US Market Successfully

["George Achorn" <coolidge@tidalwave.net>]

Hi All, 
	Stuck on a long plane flight to New Orleans I got to thinking about the
Volkswagen/Audi lineup. Yes I know I have no life. Anyway, it finally hit
me how VW could sell the GTI, Corrado and Audi A3  in the US market without
too much fear of cannibalization.
	First the Corrado. Now that the Jetta platform is more of an equivalent to
the Accord than it is the Civic, atleast in size, a sports car based on the
A chassis would be more along the lines of an Accord or Nissan 300ZX.
Imagine if you will a Corrado with VR5 and front wheel drive in base format
and in top of the line SLC format a Corrado Syncro with 2.9L Variable Valve
Timed and 24V VR6 setup. This would be an upmarket sports car for VW in the
high $20,000s. 
	Next the GTI. In order for this car to not compete with either Corrado or
Audi A3 it needs to be severely differentiated. So let's look at it. What
do you think when you think GTI? I think high performance, econobox, light,
nimble, sporty, economical, and great on gas. This is all something the a4
chassis GTI will not be. It'll be big, expensive and not very nimble. My
solution, what if the new GTI were based on the 3 door Polo. Give it a more
aggressive front fascia, tighter suspension, 16 in. wheels, plus traction
control, recaro seating, all wheel disc brakes, short ratio tranny, nice
stereo and the clincher, the ultra sweet 1.8T engine with 5 valve
technology. With just a chip it'll reach 200hp so  sport tuning the car
would be a dream, and about as light as an A2 GTI with the dimensions of
nearly an A1 the car would be a featherweight. Accompany it with a 4 door
sedan below the Jetta (Polo Classic) call it here just the Polo and a coupe
version with trunk (Polo Coupe) and you have a nice entry level lineup. Not
only that but the GTI would then be a serious performance ultralight again
with seriously competitive pricing.
	The reason this GTI has not been considered is the lack of wanting  to
compete in Europe with the SEAT Ibiza GTI (also a VW made car), but in the
states there is no such problem.
	Now bring in the Audi A3. With no 2 door Golf in the states, so the Audi
could fill that void while also going after the BMW 318ti and offering
another base car over the A4 1.8T for future Audiphiles to get into.
	Just a thought, let me know what you all think-G