I think it’s what people call irony: Just a week or so before Toyota became synonymous with unintended acceleration, it was focusing on the intended kind at the Tokyo Auto Salon. That’s where it gave five of its JDM models the “G Sports” treatment, introducing a new series of products that are “designed for customers who strongly desire to own a unique vehicle, offering them a personalized interior and exterior design along with sports-driving performance.”

And while three of those vehicles will remain solely aimed at the Japanese domestic market, two—the Toyota Prius and coming Toyota FT-86—should hit the U.S. later this year. These two are ideal choices for the U.S., with the new Prius bodykit alone sure to make people reassess their view of the popular Toyota hybrid. As for the FT-86, Toyota’s coming new rear-wheel-drive sports-car, gearheads have been salivating over its style and relatively-low MSRP ever since a concept version showed up at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. The G Series version shown at theAuto Salon adds a turbocharger into the mix, which should add further excitement into the marketplace.

Volkswagen is using the same strategy with its R division, which will officially launch at Geneva in March and is expected to be a rival to other OEMs’s in-house performance divisions, like BMW’s M group or Mercedes-Benz’ AMG. In fact, VW already offers “R” versions of the VW Golf and Scirocco in Europe, where they both pack 260+ hp.

That Golf is expected to be the first R vehicle to reach U.S. dealerships, starting later this year, and R versions of the latest Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Eos and Volkswagen CC are under consideration as well.

I know Volkswagen is aiming to drastically boost U.S. sales in the coming years, and these R vehicles should certainly help get things off to a fast start.

***

Find more information on what other companies are doing to boost their US Sales.

The Volkswagen Passat has seen its fair share of ups and downs. But as new car demand waned, the demand for the Passat plummeted. Instead, buyers were either more interested in sportier looking CC, or in other foreign luxury brands. This has led VW to consider dropping the Passat when a new mid-sized sedan is expected to go on sale in 2011.

The all-new sedan, which is to be built in the U.S., has yet to be named according to a Hamilton car dealership. Although it will be larger than the current Passat, it will also be priced lower, which Saint Louis Used Volkswagen dealers say may help it become more competitive next to lower priced options from Japanese and domestic automakers.

Since it will be built in Tennessee, Volkswagen will be able to offer the new sedan with a lower price tag than the Passat. The 2010 Passat starts at just under $28K. This year VW will also be dropping the V6 model says one Wausau used Volkswagen dealer and will only offer the sedan with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

Although a name and specific details of the new sedan are not yet available, VW is expecting to sell about 100,000 units per year when it finally arrives – far more than the goals set for the Passat. Last year Passat sales totaled 30,034 units. Despite being based on the Passat, the CC sedan will remain in the lineup.

* * *

Read more about import auto news right here at Car Biz Buzz.