Volkswagen Scirocco unveiled

By Mark Nichol

First Official Pictures

03 March 2008 20:00

VW has finally taken the wraps off the new Scirocco, 15 years after killing off the last generation coupe. Due to be officially unveiled at Geneva 2008, the Golf-based Scirocco has a pleasingly similar exterior to the Iroc concept shown at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, although the concept’s space-age interior has, predictably, undergone the full production watering-down.

How cynical. The Scirocco shares plenty with the Golf, including its chassis and a load of interior parts, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s an important model for VW – the company hasn’t had a sporty coupe in its line-up since the Corrado retired in 1996. It replaced the original 1974 Giugiaro-designed Scirocco in 1989.

Now, 12 years on from the Corrado, VW has taken the Golf's underpinnings and stretched a longer, lower and wider body over the top to create the new Scirocco, a proper four-seat coupe which retains the practicality of small family hatchback.

So, the Scirocco should accommodate four adults in relative comfort and the boot can swallow 292 litres – only 58 less than the Golf.

Indeed. The Scirocco will be launched with only one engine option, but thankfully that engine is the 2.0 T-FSI from the Golf GTI, good for 197bhp and 207lb ft of torque. VW hasn’t spilled the beans on performance figures for the new coupe yet, but expect the 0-62mph sprint to be in the same region as the Golf’s 6.9 seconds (with the optional DSG 'box fitted).

But what really separates the Scirocco from common-or-garden Golfs is the adaptive chassis control, which allows the driver to alter the damping and steering settings by switching between comfort, normal and sport modes.

The coupe also features VW’s electronic stability programme (ESP), anti-lock brakes (ABS) and hydraulic brake assist.

Click 'Next' below to get engine and pricing details on Volkswagen's new Scirocco coupe 

By Mark Nichol