As much as Americans love Volkswagen's GTI and R performance models, the two badges barely make a scratch on the brand's lineup in the US. Meanwhile, Volkswagen has offered at least five other models wearing the GTI badge around the world and six with an R on the back. Why doesn't the US get more fast VWs? The company's US product planning director explains it, though it comes across in a very strange way. Volkswagen Performance Models Must Be 'Real'Volkswagen Serban Boldea is the director of product planning for VW USA. He spoke with Motor1 about the reasons behind the lack of fast VWs stateside, and he wasn't necessarily complimentary about the GTI models sold elsewhere in the world. "If we bring [a vehicle] to market with this badge and we’re going to stand behind it, then it’s gotta be the real thing. When R is put on a vehicle, it can’t just be some plastic and a sticker," he said.That kind of sounds like Boldea thinks GTI and R models sold in other markets aren't necessarily deserving of the badge. He expanded further on VW USA's commitment to protecting the integrity of the two badges."If you don’t see a GTI in other vehicles in the US, it’s because the whole concept of a GTI – the lightness, the simplicity, the fun – is more than just a name badge. A GTI comes with a particular seat, red accents, and drivability. It’s beyond the visual. We will only bring a car to market named GTI if we all internally feel that you will drive it and say, ‘yep, that’s a GTI.'"-Serban Boldea, VW USA director of product planningBut if VW is protecting these badges so carefully, does that mean US buyers are locked out of fun VWs entirely – or is something new coming? More Fun Vehicles Are Coming To VW Volkswagen Despite the lack of models in the US and the need for "the real thing," Boldea hinted that there will be more fun Volkswagens for the US. The brand seems to be looking at another shift in direction. He told Motor1 that "We are working to make sure that the 'fun to drive' is in a Volkswagen. We are looking at where we take the brand with ‘fun to drive’ being an essential element of it."It's tough to see other Volkswagen models sold in the US wearing the badge. While the Touareg R50 and its 5.0-liter V10 diesel were worthy of it, the US-market Atlas would never accommodate an engine that large. Volkswagen's 2.0-liter four is capable of big things, but even in its most powerful 316 hp form, it's not going to move the big three-row model with anywhere near enough authority.On the smaller side, the Volkswagen Taos might be a possibility for the transformation into a GTI, though a more expensive R seems unlikely. It's not even sold in VW's home market of Germany, so the head office might not notice if the Golf's engine finds its way into that one. We'll need to wait to find out what the official VW USA performance plans are. CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters: VolkswagenAmericans like fast cars. Stellantis can't build its big-V8 SUVs and pickups quickly enough; BMW M cars are everywhere, and Hyundai is putting its competitor N badge on everything it can. Volkswagen used to be synonymous with fun small cars, but has moved away from that and now seems to struggle with its place in the market.Going back to fun and fast cars and putting its distinctly German touch on affordable models to give them a feeling more like Audi and BMW could be a big hit for Volkswagen's struggling US sales.
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