VW Eyes Luxury SUV, Sedan

Volkswagen of America Inc. would like another luxury sedan and midsize SUV to help flesh out its growing North American lineup.

The new products would be in addition to the high-end Phaeton luxury sedan due out early next year, the Touareg cross/utility vehicle due a year from now and the soon-to-be-released New Beetle Convertible.

Frank Maguire, vice president-sales and marketing for VWA, is lobbying for another luxury sedan slotted between the recently launched Passat W8 and the Phaeton. There will be about a $15,000 gap between a top-of-the-line W8 and lowest-end Phaeton.

A midrange SUV contender likely would be larger than the Touareg, which shares a platform with the Porsche Cayenne.

Off the drawing board is a pickup truck, displayed as a concept three years ago. VW research showed that consumers were interested in a VW pickup truck — but not at the premium price point the auto maker was considering.