TimesOnline drives all new Volkswagen Scirocco

Gavin Conway from TimesOnline has recently filed a report on the all new Volkswagen Scirocco (also reviewed by Greg Kable in the July 2008 issue of Wheels). The car is now available for order in the UK, but the car’s Australian future remains unclear. Volkswagen sales in Australia are going from strength to strength, and while the introduction of the Scirocco to our market may affect sales of the Golf GTI and the R32, it is the new sales the Scirocco’s stunning and swooping lines could help create that should be adding a sparkle to the eyes of the decision makers at Volkswagen Group Australia.

The Scirocco, in GT24 guise, made a stunning racing debut at the recent Nürburgring 24 hour race, claiming first, second and fourth spots in class from the three cars entered (see AUSringers.com for more detail, including some superb photography).

Certainly, Mr Conway thinks Volkswagen are on to a good thing with the first new Scirocco in over 30 years, “a third of a century may have elapsed but the new car does the same job the cultish Scirocco did back then—takes ordinary, reliable, proven VW mechanicals and wraps them in a form that will make people point and smile.”

Many would agree with his observation that the Scirocco has several “delicious design details”. I would suggest it is the car’s rear shoulder line that is its best feature. In the UK, at least, the car will be offered with three engine choices to start with. The 147kW 2-litre turbo from the GTI, the twincharged 1.4 TSI and the 2-litre turbo diesel—the engine partly responsible for boosting sales across the range for Volkswagen in Australia. Whether Australians would be ready to embrace a diesel powered “sports” coupé is another thing, but the 2.0 TDI is definitely a very willing powerplant capable of tidy performance. There have been suggestions in the media that Jutta Dierks, Volkswagen Group Australia CEO, is angling for the 3.2-litre 6 cylinder from the R32, or maybe even the R36 engine from the bigger Passat. That would certainly help differentiate the car from the Golf range, to a degree, but the more frugal engines to be offered in the UK are also well chosen in these times of rising fuel prices.

In the end Gavin Conway felt he needed more time in the Scirocco to more ably adjudicate on the car’s handling. Although, he did describe the Scirocco as being “beautifully balanced” with “outstanding body control”. I just hope Australians get the opportunity of discovering the joys of the all new Scirocco for themselves. Volkswagen, please bring this car to Australia!