New age Scirocco

Newswheel staff :: 28 September 2005 :: Filed under Coupe, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Scirocco, Europe & UK, US

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Compact coupe with novel powerplant due out in 2008

Things are really looking up for fans of sporty VWs. The latest Golf GTI is a welcome return to form after the seriously stodgy Mark 3 and Mark 4 models. The new Golf R32 is looking like a winner, too. And now there’s news of a new age Scirocco.

German mag Auto Motor und Sport has the skinny on the new car, which is expected to be powered by VW’s novel 1.4-litre engine as found in the recently-released Golf GT. With both super and turbochargers, the compact and lightweight four cylinder unit produces 168bhp and an equally impressive 177 lb/ft from as low as 1,750rpm. Oh, and it knocks that little lot out while returning nearly 40mpg. It sounds like the ideal powerplant for the new Scirocco, which will have an extremely low roofline despite being based on the fifth-generation Golf platform. With the Golf’s great all-independent chassis, compact dimensions and a lightweight but powerful engine in its nose, the new Scirocco should be VW’s best-handling front drive model since the dearly departed Corrado. European pricing is forecast for just over €20,000, so it looks it could be a real bargain, too. Sales start in early 2008.

Linkage:
Auto Motor und Sport (German only)