Dig Volkswagen’s excellent Golf hatchback but yearn for something a little less practical and a lot saucier? Light-bulb moment: It exists, and it’s called the Scirocco. Enthusiasts know the car’s deal: The first- and second-generation models were sold here in the 1970s and ’80s (full history here), but the third-gen model, introduced after a long hiatus, was restricted to Europe. In what could be a tease or a signal of future intentions, Volkswagen sent us a 261-hp Scirocco R—complete with a genuine Wolfsburg registration plate—for a quick test.
Alas, four-wheeled forbidden fruit can be dangerous, and not just because the allure of a hot, foreign-market car can grip your loins like a self-defense trainee. We had previously driven a 2010 Scirocco R, but this marks our first chance to gather hard performance data. Naturally, we set out to explore how the Scirocco stacks up against the architecturally similar Golf R that was sold here through the 2013 model year and makes way for the new one within the next couple of years. The two share their turbocharged 2.0-liter four and underlying platform, but the front-drive Scirocco has two fewer driven wheels than the all-wheel-drive Golf R.
Exterior sharper, interior loaded
The external characteristics of the new Volkswagen Scirocco include its newly designed front and rear sections with redesigned H7 or bi-xenon headlights and LED rear lights. The rear and now swivelling VW logo was designed as a handle for opening the boot lid. The interior is equipped with sport seats and a leather sport steering wheel as standard, while the sports car also features new materials and colours. New technical features include the Dynaudio Excite sound system developed specifically for the Scirocco and the park steering assistant (ParkAssist). Also new on board as standard are auxiliary instruments (charge pressure, chronometer, engine oil temperature) which pay tribute to the original Scirocco.
2015 Volkswagen Scirocco
Reviewed by BlogCarShow
Published :
Rating : 4.5
Published :
Rating : 4.5
