In September, Volkswagen is going all nostalgic with the re-launch of the Scirocco badge.
Sixteen years after the last Scirocco rolled off the production line, a new, sleeker and aggressive-looking coupe-hatch will be adorning Volkswagen forecourts worldwide.
Using the same platform and engine as the Golf GTi, the Scirocco – which is slightly longer, wider and lower than the Golf – will boast hot hatch performance, coupe looks and be attainable to many with a price tag of about £22,000.
Are you thinking of buying one?
With its great looks, historic name and (in the future) a wide choice of engines, the Scirocco faces tough competition from within the Volkswagen Audi Group.
There’s not doubting the design – so will this tempt buyers away from the more common Golf GTi?
Then there’s the price – are potential Audi TT buyers going to look at the considerably cheaper Scirocco and opt for the Volkswagen?
We’re in Portugal tomorrow driving the Scirocco where we’ll get a gauge of the car’s cornering prowess. With a wider and lower base, there’s a good chance the Scirocco could feel more planted than its Golf GTi sibling.
Auto Trader will be publishing our review of the Scirocco on Wednesday morning so don’t forget to come to www.autotrader.co.uk for our opinion on the comeback kid.
So would you buy one over the Golf GTi or Audi TT?
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38 Comments
June 23, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I quite like the idea of buying the new scirocco but unsure of the styling from the pix ive seen so far it has more than just a hint of SEAT about it I think I need more convincing . . . it may be more Sheep in Wolfs underpants i fear…..
Wills from N.Wales
June 24, 2008 at 7:58 am
I would definately have a new scirocco!!! If they are anything like the old ones they will be absolutely amazing.
My brother and I had a mk2 GTI and a Mk2 GTXI and they were the best cars we ever had… They were solid as a rock and faster than most things they met up with on the streets.
The scirocco’s old party piece was the way that it pulled like a train in 3rd gear… It seemed to go on forever!! I’ll never forget those cars.
I hope the performance and the ride are just as good on the new one and by the looks of the testing they did at the nurburgring it all looks very hopefull.
Well done to Volkswagen for allowing the Scirocco name to live on again… I WANT ONE!!!!!
June 24, 2008 at 10:25 am
It’s odd Volkswagen have gone for such a bold design. They normally let Seat go for the more adventurous look, such as with the recent Bocanegra which will now hit production. Well done VW. I’m hoping the aggressive front will be the start of a new generation of VWs which give the brand a more entertaining, provocative look.
good on Volkswagen
June 24, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I’m loving the design. It’s a breath of fresh air and will give the VAG built Golf GTi, Audi TT and future bocanegra a run for their money. Could it be the future design cue for the VW range? Possibly. I’d like to see something more radical done to the Polo which is starting to look its age now against the sleeker Mazda 2, future Ford Fiesta and Seat Ibiza.
Just wait for the Scirocco 4wd ‘R’ model – that’s going to be a real animal!
June 25, 2008 at 11:32 am
Is it just me or is the new Sciricco an absolute disappointment, I thought the photos were of a Golf at first…and the interior definitely is…so boring it makes me want to go to sleep…
June 25, 2008 at 12:44 pm
As an R32 owner I have been looking forward to the release of the Scirocco and was contemplating replacing the .:R with one. First thoughts however are that I am disappointed, especially with the design. I may change my opinion when I see it in the flesh but for now I think it’s a no go for me. If my opinion does change with seeing it in person the the 2 litre TSi engine with DSG does really appeal to me, apparently it’s an awesome engine and I could do a little tinkering to squeeze a few extra BHP from it (he he!!)
June 27, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Looks are dissapointing to be honest and the inside is so so dull. theres no way i would stump out 22k in the middle of a credit crunch for it, esp when a type r wipes the floor with it in every department (apart from stone chips on the bonnet!) for 18k minus discount. put 4k in your pocket and buy something with soul.
June 28, 2008 at 11:14 am
I work for a VW retailer and saw the car in the flesh for the first time this week. This car is without a doubt one of the best cars VW has ever produced, it looks absolutely nothing like a Seat (or a current generation Golf???) and for value knocks spots off the TT. In fact the Scirocco GT 2.0 TSI at £20,940 is noticably better equipped than a Golf GTI 3dr for just over £100 more. Yes it’s got the dash from an Eos, but is that really a bad thing? VW could have developed a truly unique interior but why push the cost of the car up more than is necessary.
If you want one I suggest get your order in quick as VW UK expects to sell all of its 2008 allocation by the September launch!
July 1, 2008 at 10:40 am
Is that Mr Astbury working on his commission already??? LOL, anyway as previously stated I need to see it in the flesh before I decide. Maybe if there is an .:R model released next year that may be worth the wait, does anyone know if they plan or have looked into putting the .:R36 engine into it?
July 1, 2008 at 9:16 pm
he, he, you cynic lol. A lot of people have been asking about this and VW are keeping quiet, so far the only engines confirmed are the 2.0TSI 200ps for launch and later in the year the 1.4TSI 160ps and 2.0 CR TDI 140ps. I personally don’t think they will use either the 3.2 or the 3.6 and if they were to use a more powerful unit it would be more likely the 230ps 2.0TSI from the GTI Pirelli/Ed.30 or the 261ps 2.0 TFSI unit from the Audi S3. Regardless I think it may be some while if they do decide to launch further powerplants.
July 3, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Ah the TFSI engine, it never crossed my mind. That would be interesting. Mr A do you happen to know how many of the new Scirroco will be realeased total? Will it be the same format as the MKV .:R? I opted for the MKIV .:R due to it’s limited numbers, I often get MKV owners saying how they prefer the looks of the IV. Oh and I like the prestige of owning a ltd availability car!!!
July 8, 2008 at 7:28 pm
It’s somewhere in the region of 3,300 for 2008 (VW expects to sell all of these prior to launch) and if I remember rightly 9,000 next year. The allocation of MK5 R32 was in the region of 2,500 units a year. As MK5 R32 production is now being drawn to a close and the tendancy for VW not to release GTI variants until up to 12 months after launch (MK6 Golf due in January) I suspect the demand for Scirocco next year will be huge.
July 10, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Hey I’ve mine ordered. Waiting for VW to make it. It’s due for delivery 1st week in October and I cant wait!!!! The thing is I was too young to drive an old scirocco, always liked the golf but there are soo many of them about – this is a perfect solution! I’ll tell you all how fabulous it really is when I get it!
July 10, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I would by one as soon as it came to Portugal. This car is absolutely amazing. I love it.
July 11, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen this is teamscirocco.org I am a three time Scirocco Type 53b owner and have been driving my 3rd Scirocco coming up to four years. How many have you owned and driven a Scirocco? About the new and improved Scirocco quite simply it has taken Volkswagen seventeen years to deliver what resembles a Vauxhaull Tigra, Honda Civic Type R, Peugeot, and the Audi A3. Sadly the list just goes on and on. I wrote a thirteen page letter to Volkswagen Germany expressing my inner most concerns about the new Scirocco design to which I had received a reply. A truly wasted seventeen years for a Scirocco come back. VW had mustered up the Golf 650 W12 within six to eight weeks and you wonder so why the new Scirocco went wrong. This raises so many questions and Auto Trader how much are you getting paid for the PR stunt. In my die hard Scirocco opinion the car was a complete failure waste of time and money when they had launched the IROC CONCEPT 2006. Boss Wolfgang Bernard and designer Marc Lichte should effective immediately hand in their resignations and then just disappear. Volkswagen have spent more money advertising the new Scirocco where as this money could have been ploughed back to make new the Scirocco a real Super Sports Car and not a rubbish car. My sincere advice don’t get sucked in, spend your money elsewhere PRUDENTLY. Its only way these idiots are going to learn!
July 14, 2008 at 9:25 am
Oh dear Team Scirocco. You’re clearly wrong. Having driven an old Scirocco I can say it was good, but not amazing and the name has somewhat become legendary by accident. The new-look Scirocco is stunning looking and a bold change of direction for the really rather conservative VW brand. The Scirocco was completely bettered with the Corrado.
Tigra, Type-R, Peugeot? Not a chance – the closest resemblance it has it to the Bocanegra concept. And that’s a VW owned Seat model.
Read the reviews. It handles superbly, has a great design and a brilliant engine. Can’t wait for teh 4wd model if that comes out
July 14, 2008 at 10:45 pm
What a dissapointment! I’ve been waiting for this car to be released for a few years since I saw pics of it in concept stage, it looked amazing, the best looking new car i’ve seen in years. But now look at it! The front grille looks like a citroen or a yank or something equally ugly and the back is the same as the a3 sportback, more an estate than the sleek coupe lines the concept had. I don’t care what engine they put in now, they’ve ruined it ! Maybe they don’t want to sell it in any great volume taking away from the better looking golf, a3 or even seat!
July 23, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Well all I can say is I am extrmely happy being one of those suckers, having placed my order a few weeks back for an end of september delivery.
The golf Gti Mk5 is considered a huge sucess and this car only builds on that sucess by adding flair to the design some more technology and yet for the same price. I must be getting ripped off.
July 29, 2008 at 5:48 am
Well, I disagree. Having seen and sat in the car at VW UK Headquarters in Milton Keynes 3 months ago, I can honestly say that in the flesh it looks amazing, and much better than in any pictures, and way better than any Golf. I have ordered a DSG in black to be delivered at some point in October or November, and I can’t wait, and I feel justified in the good reviews about its handling it is getting. The 2 litre TFSI is a trusted unit and you can always remap the ECU if you want more power. The basic price is competitive, however throw in a few options and it soon mounts up, but that is the same really with any new car. I am confident it is going to be a winner and hence I am buying one.
July 31, 2008 at 4:25 pm
What a lame car, Audi finally replaced their coupe from the early 90’s with the A5 which does justice, but where did VWdesigners get this lame design from? They simply cheated by using the golf and tweaking it a little…. I don’t even see it as a sports coupe…. More of a sporty hatch! Bring back the Corrado anyday….
Also, since when did they start having 1.4 engines in £20k+ sports coupes…. what a joke!