If anything, the Hot Rod and Dune versions they had out as concept cars a couple of years ago are more likely to be the "manly" things they'd want to do. Dune = Baja beetles.
For the Hot Rod version, unless you're only going to service warmer climes, the roof line makes a slightly impractical car even more impractical. I doubt they'd make it in any numbers as it can't be a person's only car as it's simply too impractical. The New Beetle coupe and convertible can easily be your only car - as we all know.
For the Dune, a hot engine with proper off road AWD and a practical interior would attract the manly men who like to race offroad (or at least they think they do).
I doubt they'd move it to the Polo platform. Although modern Polo is Golf II sized, Golf / Rabbit sales prove that hatches simply don't sell in the USA. The folks who want a hatch buy SUVs or minivans. If only gas was $4 / gallon, I'm sure a lot of folks buying CR-V's and what not would look hard at Golf's / Rabbits. Except that the 6 cylinder CR-V gets about the same fuel economy as the 2.5 Rabbit. VW really need to bring FSI 2.0 engines here. Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of the 2.5, but I've also tasted the FSI 2.0 and it simply craps all over the 2.5 for responsiveness and outright speed and has the fuel economy I'd expect in 2007. The 100 kW 2.0 TDI is even better - unbelievable anywhere you want it grunt with great fuel economy (over 40 mpg). It's a totally different ball game. Makes the 2.5 seem like a weedy kid with a fuel habit.
Andrew
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