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No Scirocco For You
We knew this was coming, but didn't want to admit it. The production version of Volkswagen's Iroc concept will go on sale later this year, but the Scirocco revival won't be coming to a dealer near you. VW is justifiably worried that the Scirocco would cannibalize sales of the GTI and R32 in the States, so it's decided that buyers abroad will be the only ones worthy to purchase the automaker's newest hot hatch.

When it does go on sale, European consumers will be able to equip their Scirocco with several gasoline engines, ranging from a 1.4-liter in-line four to a 280bhp 3.6-liter V6, with options for diesel power, 4Motion all-wheel drive and a dual-clutch gearbox.

And The Beat Goes On... To Production
At the New York Auto Show last year, General Motors trotted out three compact concepts and told the people of Earth to vote for their favorite. The world spoke and the winner is the Beat. The three-door sub-compact took the lion's share of the 1.8 million votes and it will begin production somewhere outside North America in 2009.

While it's been easy to discount GM's A-class offerings in the US, particularly when comparing the Chevrolet Aveo to the competition provided by the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris, the Beat seems like it could be a contender for the hearts and minds of a fuel-conscious nation. Tough luck. Even though the General could shake up the sub-compact genre with the entrance of the Beat to the US market, it's decided that sales will be limited to overseas markets-namely Korea, China and possibly Japan.

By Damon Lavrinc

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