VW Scirocco and Scirocco R (2014) more power for tweaked coupe

By Damion Smy

First Official Pictures

17 February 2014 10:00

VW’s Scirocco is rearming ahead of the new Audi TT’s reveal at the 2014 Geneva motor show. VW wants to blow Audi’s 2+2 coupe into the weeds with a double-whammy of more power and fuel economy.

So, along with tweaked looks and new interior toys, that’s exactly what all six Scirocco variants have been given.

Fittingly, it’s the fire-breathing Scirocco R flagship that gets the biggest power bump. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-pot pushes out 276bhp – the same as a Vauxhall Astra VXR and a Seat Leon Cupra.

That’s a 15bhp jump over the old car – which we loved here at CAR. It’s still the thirstiest ’Roc, with a 34.9mpg claim – a similarly potent Peugeot RCZ R tops the 40mpg mark, according to Peugeot’s figures.

The next most potent Scirocco also has a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder, developing 217bhp – a 10bhp gain. VW claims that this model is up to 19% more frugal than before, pointing to an eco-claim of some 45mpg.

The old 1.4-litre, 158bhp engine has been replaced by a 2.0-litre TSI with 178bhp. You can still have the smaller petrol engine, as it’s still offered in the entry-level Scirocco, albeit with a token 3bhp tickle from 120bhp up to 123bhp.

In the old Scirocco, you got a choice of two 2.0 TDI engines, developing 138bhp and 175bhp respectively. That’s 148bhp and 182bhp now, with the lower-powered version the efficiency here, with a claimed 68.9mpg.

A six-speed manual is standard across the range, and then you’ve the option of a dual-clutch paddleshifter. However, there’s a catch.

On the lower-powered models, it’s a six-speed dual-clutcher. Only the top-dogs of Scirocco-kind offer a seven-speeder – keep that in your pocket for pub ammo, Scirocco R owners.

Only the most ardent of VW anoraks. You bag LED rear lights on the facelifted car, plus new-look headlights. Regular Sciroccos get a Golf GTI-aping jawline, featuring the plastic Ferrari Testarossa-tribute side strakes in each corner. The other visual change is a reprofiled rear bumper and new alloy wheel designs. Scirocco Rs wear a bespoke bodykit with an angrier snout and rear wheelarch vents set into the hind quarters.

Inside, the ’Roc has sprouted a cluster of dash-top gauges, including a stopwatch, oil temperature, and turbo boost pressure. VW claims this is a tribute to the 1974 Scirocco, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. However, the eagle-eyed among you will note it’s simply a carryover gauge pod from the Beetle Turbo. The main change inside the cabin is actually the new steering wheel, borrowed from the Golf.

More details about the new Scirocco, including how much you’ll pay for one of these boosted babies in the UK, will be revealed at the Geneva motor show in March 2014. For CAR’s complete A-Z guide to Geneva 2014, click here.

By Damion Smy