Thanks to its sporty and stylish nature, the Volkswagen Scirocco became a popular 3-door model in the 1970s and 80s; however, it ultimately faded into automotive oblivion by the early 1990s. Just when we thought we heard the last of the Scirocco, it made a triumphant return in 2008 as a hot new hatchback developed off of the popular VW Golf platform.
The new Scirocco continues where the last one left off, offering plenty of sport for the economy-minded enthusiast. Its turbo-/supercharged 1.4-liter TSI engine gained high praise for its performance when it debuted in 2008, but the following year, an even better powerplant was introduced under the hood of the hot Scirocco R. This car was so impressive that it won its class in the Nürburgring 24 hour race two years in a row.
The Scirocco R's lowered ride height and wide body hinted at its high-performance nature: it wore special side skirts and a roof spoiler reminiscent of the successful Nürburgring race car. Its suspension and brakes were greatly improved, and the 2.0-liter TSI direct-injection turbocharged engine produced an impressive 252 HP at 6000 rpm—the same as the Golf R. But while the Golf R utilized 4-Motion all-wheel drive, the Scirocco remained front-wheel drive to keep its weight low. As a result, it is 120 kg lighter than the Golf R at 1410 kg.
With its dynamic engine sound, sharp cornering capability and convenient utility, the Volkswagen Scirocco is the rare car that fulfills every boy racer's heart for spirited driving while also serving the role as everyday commuter.