Volkswagen Iroc concept (2006): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara

First Official Pictures

24 August 2006 08:01

The lowdown

This is the Iroc, a sexy successor to the Scirocco coupe that Volkswagen will launch in 2008. Officially, the Iroc is a concept car, but make no mistake, this dynamic three-door is heading for production. The design doesn't share many obvious styling cues with the 1974 original. But the show car's name comes straight from the heart of the word Scirocco, and the production car will be charged with casting a halo over the meat of the VW range – just like the original did. Expect Scirocco prices from £22,000, and power from high-revving TSI fourpot and V6 engines.

The Iroc is conceptually just like the original Scirocco, the work of legendary car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. It has three doors, a transverse engine in the nose, 2+2-seating and a decent-sized boot. The show car is even painted in viper green metallic, lifted from the 1976 colour palette. But unlike the Scirocco, the Iroc is no classic coupe. It's more of a shooting brake, reminiscent of last year's Audi TT Mk2 concept. Missed opportunity? The stance might be butch, and the long-roofed proportions dynamic, but in these pictures it just looks like a glorified Golf GTi. CAR Online believes Volkswagen has erred by not offering more of an alternative bodystyle to the brilliant GTi. That said, it stands no higher than Mercedes' Sportcoupe.

By Phil McNamara