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| Volkswagen recently announced its ultra-hot 241-hp AWD GTI R32 will not be coming to Canada either. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Speaking of not complaining, no one was overly wrought about losing most of Mercury's products - the Cougar and Grand Marquis stayed while the Ford Crown Vic and ZX2 were dropped - when it pulled up shop and went home a few years back. But watch tempers flare if the 'sign of the cat' announces an all-new retro-style Cougar in the wake of the next generation Mustang, and Canadians can't get their hands on it.
Volkswagen recently announced its ultra-hot 241-hp AWD GTI R32 will be staying stateside too. How might VW's ultra-loyal fans feel after waiting for years for an all-wheel drive GTI? No doubt some will feel unimportant in the eyes of their favorite brand. The same must be said for Audi deciding not to bring its 450-hp RS6 to the land of the almost free.
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| The Lexus GX 470 is another casualty, remaining in the U.S. but not coming north. (Photo: Toyota/Lexus) |
But GM and VW aren't the only manufacturers holding back models. Recently Toyota not only denied Canada its very slick Lexus GX 470 but 'forgot' about introducing an entire brand, value priced Scion. Considering Canadians have had only gray market access to its revered Land Cruiser line since the model's last major redesign and the current generation MR2 has never been offered, such actions are to be expected.
There's no official word from DaimlerChrysler regarding its 2004 Magnum SRT-8, but being that Dodge's range of products aren't fully available in this country there's a good chance we won't see it either. That said Dodge and Chrysler brands are becoming so distinct with each new model release a business model could be made for a full return of the Ram marque. After all, anything is possible.