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English motor mags Autocar and Car have filed their initial drive reports on Volkswagen’s 195kW Scirocco R. With all that power going to the front wheels only, will the feisty ‘Roc be a blithering mess or a competent B-road balltearer?

Autocar: “Keeping the Scirocco R front-drive has kept weight in check, and there’s no denying that power figure, so this is a car that feels entirely at home in the company of mega-hatches like the Focus and the old Megane R26.”

Car: “VW seems to be enjoying a strong run of sporting excellence at the moment, after losing the plot in the 1990s. The Scirocco R is another reminder they can build cracking sports cars at democratic prices. Bravo.”

While it seems unlikely that we will see the Scirocco in Australia in the short term, there are enough whisperings around to ensure all hope is not lost. Indeed, a sole Scirocco model lineup consisting of the R only may be Australia’s best option. If you’re keen on seeing this car in your local Volkswagen showroom then the best I can suggest is to contact VW and ask them “Where the bloody hell is my Scirocco?!”.

While browsing YouTube I discovered that Volkswagen Australia may have learnt a thing or two from their UK brethren about how to launch a new GTI.

Here is some behind the scenes footage of the UK launch of Volkswagen’s latest GTI, held at the Millbrook Proving Ground.

While AUSmotive has been in the midst of GTI mania recently, fans of oil burners have reason to rejoice too. The Golf GTD now appears to be a certainty for Australian delivery. The only question that remaining is the arrival date.

According to the SMH.com.au the GTD will be here later this year, “Volkswagen Australia is planning to introduce a diesel version of its iconic GTI hot-hatch by the end of 2009.”

Hmm, I’ll believe that when I see it. At best, I reckon that date is a typo and should have read by the end of 2010. In recent times I have heard of two possible dates for GTD arrivals. One indicated some time around June 2010, while the other snippet that came my way was a cautious line suggesting the GTD would arrive before the end of next year.

The GTD is basically a Golf GTI with a diesel engine. The badge first appeared way back on the Mk1 Golf, so while the model may not have current cachet, it does have a proud history.

The pics shown in this article are sourced from Volkswagen UK, so enjoy them for what they are, it is highly unlikely that Australia will see any three door Golf GTDs.

Everything else should be as expected, though, which means a 125kW 2.0 TDI engine capable of reaching 100km/h in 8.1 seconds. Naturally, the GTD will boast impressive torque and Australian customers will be able to brag that the GTD has more torque than an Audi S3, with 350Nm in the diesel compared to 330Nm found in Australian delivered S3s.

Perhaps one unintended hurdle to GTD sales might come in the form of the GTI itself. Volkswagen’s tweaks to the latest GTI engine have seen claimed fuel consumption drop to 7.6l/100km in DSG equipped cars. While the GTD’s figure of 5.3l/100km easily betters the GTI, it can’t be escaped that Australia, by and large, still prefers petrol powered cars and the GTI is hardly a gas guzzler. That said, sales of diesel models in the Golf Mk5 range were very healthy.

The Mk5 Golf GT Sport TDI was a barrel of laughs courtesy of massive usable torque (see previous Drive Thru report). One would expect with all the trimmings of the GTI now available that the Mk6 GTD will definitely deliver, as well.

[Thanks to Mick for the tip]

When notifications first started being sent out for the GTI Advanced Driving Academy I was not on the list. I wasn’t happy! But, in the end I needn’t have worried as I scored a place in the second round of offers. Even the 8am start time on a Monday morning didn’t put me off. Sure, I would have to leave my home in Canberra at 5am, but the chance of sampling a fleet of new Mk6 Golf GTIs around Eastern Creek was one worth grabbing with both hands.

Hang on a minute. I’ve been to a manufacturer test day before, and have had a few mates attend similar days, as well. Surely, with the new GTI just released Volkswagen will protect their new cars and make us treat them with kid gloves.

I had talked myself into believing the GTI Advanced Driving Academy would be nothing more than a three hour sell job.

Well, I was wrong. It was nothing like I expected. Yet, at the same time I was deadly accurate—it was indeed a three hour sell job—but only because Volkswagen had the confidence to let their new product do the talking.