Volkswagen updates Scirocco

Volkswagen has revealed an upgraded Scirocco, which will make its world premiere at the Geneva motor show in early March.

Among the changes to Wolfsburg’s 6-year-old coupe are some subtle exterior changes, higher quality interior, and new four-cylinder engines, including a 276-hp version of Volkswagen’s EA888 turbocharged 2.0-liter in the new top-of-the-range Scirocco R. Other engines include a 1.4-liter, 123-hp four and a 2.0-liter producing 177 hp, 217 hp or 276 hp. VW’s 2.0-liter common rail diesel with 148 hp and 181 hp is also available.

VW wants the Golf GTi to be its FWD performance car in North America, so the upgraded Scirocco will not be sold here. There’s hope, though: The next-generation, MQB platform-based Scirocco might come Stateside.

Exterior changes include a new front bumper, lightly reworked grille, new bixenon headlamps, reshaped LED tail lamps, a revised opening mechanism for the tailgate incorporated into the VW badge, and a reworked rear bumper with a black diffuser.

Seventeen-, 18- and 19-inch wheels are available.

The subtle changes continue inside, with a new instrument binnacle from the Golf GTi and dashboard trim changes. A six-speed manual is standard with a six-speed dual clutch optional.

The car goes on sale across Europe this summer.

By Jake Lingeman