March3
After a slew of leaks, Volkswagen has officials unveiled its Scirocco hatchback, which goes on sale in Europe later this summer. The car is on display this week at the Geneva Motor Show.
“In the Scirocco we will be bringing the kind of sports car into the showroom that people dream of. Yet it is a dream that an exceptionally large number of car drivers will be able to afford — despite all of the high-end technologies we have implemented,” CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn said.
With a length of 168 inches, the Scirocco is on par with the Golf. However, it is built significantly lower to the ground and is nearly as wide as the larger Passat sedan.
There is seating for four adults, including the driver. Once they are all aboard, the Scirocco provides 292 liters of cargo capacity; when the two seatbacks of the individual rear seats are folded down, capacity increases to 755 liters.
There are three TSI gasoline engines offered and one TDI diesel. The gas engines deliver 120, 158, or 145 horsepower. The diesel motor develops 140 horsepower. The standard transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
A panoramic glass roof is available, which extends from the A-pillars to the B-pillars. The glass reflects 99 percent of UV radiation, 97 percent of infrared radiation (heat) and 80 percent of visible light.
Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, height adjustable driver and front passenger seats and steering wheel, leather parking brake grip, sport seats, split folding rear seats, power windows, air conditioning, ESP, braking assistant, six airbags, speed-dependent power steering, and of course a sport chassis.
U.S. availability
Reports surfaced a few months ago suggesting the Scirocco would not be offered in the North American market, but the appearance of prototypes this summer on U.S. soil suggests otherwise.
In late April, Volkswagen of America executive Adrian Hallmark said the new Scirocco hatchback would not come to the United States because “we don’t want it.” He implied it would cannibalize sales of the GTI.
But in May, spokesman Hans-Gerd Bode said the final decision will not be made by Volkswagen of America, but rather by VW CEO Martin Winterkorn in Germany.
Kinda cool lookin
Pot heads rejoice.
That is the best looking VW offering I have seen in 25 years. I can definitely see why they wouldn’t want it here. Losers.
Why dont they just make the Golf/Rabbit look like this instead of like the putzy ass-looking POS it is?
The GTi looks cooler - a little more bulldog-like stance, more playful. Probably cheaper too.
Looks like a cooler version of the Golf.
very nice looking car!
yea this car is pretty good looking. I do still like the GTI better. I wonder what engines will be offered. Probably the 2.0T for the base engine, then what?
This car is amazing looking for a VW. The best I have seen in a long time from the German automaker. This car will definitely steal sales away from the GTI. VW should just make this the new GTI.
I can already picture in my head this car with some clean looking ground effects and a new exhaust and I’m starting to wonder why anyone would want a GTI next to this. The GTI does have a nice stance and it’s a great car but just look at the front end of this thing, it means business. If they make the wheelbase wider for better handling than the GTI then I think they would be on to something.
very nice!!!!
absolutely beautiful - if this thing shows up stateside it will be the death the rabbit.
The design kind of reminds me of an Alfa…
I think they totally ruined it. The front end looks like a large mouth bass. I understand Audi has the rights to the “big mouth” look, but instead of making the grill a big square, now it just flows like a goofy grin all the way across. Just gross.
I like it, but it’s not what I’ve expected! Too much Golf! I want(ed) something like the Scirocco from the 70s and 80s, not some exclusive Golf!
Looks good, but rear quarter-panel reminds me of Volvo C30. I’m talking about shoulder line.
I dont get why the made it such a hatchback, instead of continuing with the fastback look of previous scirocco’s ?
Is it bad? No, but it’s not all that great either. I wish they had changed the front, atleast to VW’s new theme which I personally think looks great. I’m wondering though about that interior…
this gonna be for sure a big best seller…the happiness of the tuner!
I like this a lot!!! Hopefully the second version will be a 2.5T from the new TT-RS, making somewhere near 280hp with quattro. If they want to be truly competitive the base should be price around $23K and the top version starting around $28K, but knowing VW they will price it out of existence to most of the buying public.
Where is this thing made? If Germany - OK. If Mexico - it better come with a free copy of NACHO LIBRE to make up for the ****ty quality.
eh… I don’t really care for it much. It’s sportier looking than a GTI / R32, but it’s just not sexy. I also totally don’t get why they had to make this a hunchback too. If you want one of those get the GTI or R32. Why couldn’t they make this into a proper coupe, or at least something more along the lines of the old Scirocco’s.
Oh well. I won’t be heading down to VW for one of these.
looks like the front end of a slivia slapped onto a golf
Hmmm… I’m not liking it. I’ve seen enough hatch/wagons on LLN I don’t need to see any more personally. What I would like for VW to do is bring back the VW Corrado. Now that was a sweet VW.
VW is failing to claim new customers because people think it will ruin GTI sales. Reality check, if I didn’t buy a GTI before holding back another product I like won’t make me buy one. Most people ignore VW because the lineup isn’t hot and they are sorely overpriced for what they offer. The only outstanding feature they have is quattro and that is still not enough to sway the everyday people into spending the extra cash. I for one would love to see this hit the US, I haven’t seen a hatch as hot as this since the 92-95 CIvic hatch, well maybe the Volvo C30 has taken up that spot.
O_O
omg please bring this to the states. I want one so bad already! Thank God VW got away from their “hey lets look like Toyotas” thing.
that car is nasty looking an pointless plus the c30 will kick its ass
This is so late 70’s. I like Volvo better and Mini as well. I doubt it will come here (US) since there is only one engine for VW to offer the same 2.0L turbo used from Audi A3-A4 to GTI. Good engine (based on spec), but how many cars with one mill can you peddle?
Very nice, why not just drop the 2dr GTI, and offer this with more HP than a 4dr GTI?? The 2dr GTI doesn’t look very good, and oddly the 4dr looks better anyway. This looks way nicer than a 2dr GTI/Rabbit, and they could charge another 2k for the better looks/additional HP. VWoA needs some serious help.
vw is pulling a ‘ford’ on the US market
The design is okay, but nothing very ground breaking or exciting. I do agree with the above statement by “golf4me”: they should discontinue the 3-door GTI/Rabbit and sell this instead. The Golf/Rabbit does look better in its 5-door configuration. I also think they should bring it to the U.S. since market conditions have made this kind of car much more cool and desirable.
“But in May, spokesman Hans-Gerd Bode said the final decision will not be made by Volkswagen of America, but rather by VW CEO Martin Winterkorn in Germany.”
Again, this is a perfect example of VW telling Americans what they should like versus building what they want. At least the car looks good. It’ll be a good C30 competitor, but if they’re trying to compete against Toyota, they should take notice that Toyota doesn’t compete in this segment. It’s for a reason.
Archknight is on to the right idea. The performance version of the Golf should be the GTi, and that’ll be their front-drive hot hatch. This thing should utilize the mechanical goodies from the R32. I like this car, but I do question how much sense it would make if it were basically just a different body style for the GTi.
That being said, I’m going to go ahead and disagree with Kaizen’s point. Does it really matter if the CEO of Volkswagen or the CEO of Volkswagen of America is telling the American market what it wants? Either way, it’s a businessman making a decision, and the only true way to find out if Americans want the car or not is to put it in American showrooms. No one’s putting a gun to their head, if they don’t like it then they don’t have to buy it. They can buy a Golf or any other from any other manufacturer.
It’s this kind of absolutely lineup engineering that keeps seeing Buick get the shaft. “No we don’t want a better product, because we’re comfortable selling the crap we’ve got.” Personally, I’m not crazy about the cars Volkswagen makes–in fact, I really dislike most anything wearing a VW badge–but I think as a company they’ve done a whole lot in recent years for the auto industry overall. I mean, no one needed the Veyron, but Volkswagen built it, and at great cost. It provides Volkswagen with the possibility of trickle down technology, and overall it sets a new high watermark for the entire auto industry. Now obviously the Scirocco isn’t the Veyron, but the idea behind it has the potential to function much like the idea behind the Veyron. Volkswagen has a chance to rock its own, relatively-boring, lineup of passenger cars with the Scirocco like it rocked the auto industry with Veyron.
I’ll take this… if they make it..would cost less, too.
http://www.automotive.com/future-cars/90/112-0707-2010-volkswagen-new-beetle/index.html
Quote:————–
The new car is being designed so it can be easily adapted for a wide variety of model variants. The potential Beetle plan may also explain why VW has hesitated bringing the Scirocco — a vehicle that would be similar in scope — stateside.
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2010 VW “Beetle”(?).
Sorry 4 the double posts…..
Golf influences people say?
I say Astra
The new pricing & trim levels VW has implemented on it’s lineup has seemingly made it more competitive. This one really only needs 2 trim levels to make it stand apart from it’s GTI counterpart, 2.0T base (230hp) and 2.5T/quattro (280-300hp), also offer leather trim in colors other than black. I know the new 7sp DSG is supposedly only to be used on it’s lower output engines but they could slightly reconfigure it specifically for this vehicle to make it stand apart from the GTI. With it’s lower profile, wider stance, and sportier appearance, it would give those who truly want a sporty hatch a real option. The C30 is a great little car but once you load on the options it shots way into the price of some fantastic luxury cars that will outperform it in every aspect. If VW wants to be “the people’s car”, then they should really listen to what the buyers are saying. Many want this car stateside and were excited when they announced it’s return, although many questioned this design for such a legendary name, people on several forums seem to like it overall. Like I said before, “Just because you don’t offer one vehicle for fear it will interrupt sales of your precious GTI, won’t make me run out and buy a GTI.” People buy what they want because it suits them in many different ways, appeal & price are the major factors for most buyers. In the long run it’s all about making a profit and if having a second version of something helps you churn out more, then you should probably just do so.
It’s slightly more interesting than any off the shelf Toyota.
Looks like that Audi TT three door they did.
They oughta make a really hot R32/R36 version, then be sure to NOT send that one to the USA.
LJ, that was a cool link. However, it would make more sense to me that they would do a new “Beetle” line on the UP! platform. The UP! is coming to the states, and I think it would be the best opportunity to do the Bug “right” this time.
“they should take notice that Toyota doesn’t compete in this segment. It’s for a reason.”
The reason is Scion! Sure, Toyota killed the Celica, but they also started a whole new brand marketing to the late teens early tees!
I like the Scirocco! Bring it over as the Audi A3 coupe if you worry that much about the GTI. This car looks more proportional than the GTI. It’s a hot hatch for grown ups.
I like the looks of this better than the GTI. Again, why are the Europeans get the cool looking cars and Americans get the ugly ones?
I just can’t wrap my head around this thing being called a Scirocco! It is stunningly unattractive, particularly the complete mess of a front end with the nondescript headlight shape and three different grille textures! VW should have just let Audi build the kammback TT concept that spawned this monstrosity, it looked TONS better!
PLEASE BRING IT TO THE US!!!
Decent, but the front is a little bit of an unpleasant surprise. Is this the direction VW is taking in terms of its design language. Is this what we are gonna see on the front fascias on most of their upcoming cars? I don’t know…I don’t really like that idea, but then again maybe the front end design will eventually grow on me. Nice proportions on this car though..and good interior as always
Now that i’ve seen the interior, personally I will be very disappointed if it is not brought stateside. This will be the first VW that actually sparked my interest in 15 years, since the Corrado.
On the way to the top…!
After south of the border manufacturing experts are done with their magic it will go to the top of least reliable car ratings.
For Europeans on this blog: most of VW ’s for US market come from Mexico plants and quality produced their makes Chinese and Indian counterparts look rock solid.
I don’t like the dash, kinda bland to me but not all that bad.
The seats are also pretty cool.They’ve done a fair job on everything, but imo the front and dash.
Actually, dash is very functional. It is not exciting (it is a dash!) and not jazzy (thanks God) but form follows function type. Steering wheel should be round - Toyota was fooling with this shape of steering in 80’s or 90’s.
Actually GM designers were advised by their executive wing to look at VW for interior/dash styling because it is simple and functional. Advise was to US designers, Opel always was on par with VW in “form follows function” paradigm.
The rear part of the car is one blind spot (try change lanes) and makes interior very dark, like a cave. C30 is much “airier” and cleaner looking.
LLN has not yet reported that Acura recalled 273,000 TLs (2004 to 2008) due to fire issues and 129,000 04-05 models for other stuff. The news was out Friday.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080301/BUSINESS07/803010306/1020/BUSINESS
As I recalled, the new Beetle, which are all assembled in Mexico are some of the most unreliable cars sold in the U.S. I don’t care how good the new Scirocco looks or drives, but if VW choose to build them in Mexico, I don’t think I’d warm up to it. I mean c’mon, even GM is catching up with their reliability. I say build them in Wolfsburg, and ship them here. I might even consider buying one if it’s half decent.
The front is feminine but the back has a nice stance
LargePenis—you never did answer my question: just what cars DO you like? You sure haven’t liked anything on LLN that I can tell.
i wonder what will this cost…
anyone?
LargePenis likes Tatas.
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At least mine does.
put the R32 exhaust setup with the duals spaced out in the middle and im sold on it
too bad VW associated itself strictly with Gay Yuppies.
I loved the original Scirrocco and this thing is totally cool. I think VW has improved so much since the 1970’s their Mini-Bus while very popular along with the VW beetle with the Hippies and Yippies had very bad motors in them. And I can talk even though I am not a hippy nor were my parents but we had a VW Bus minus Hippy murals on the side along with peace sign, and it was good for awhile but totally lacked power. Also in the winter months the heater was totally lame. Lol.
But I admit in some ways not bad. The Scirrocco looks fun to drive and the Phaeton looks awesome too. Germany engineering! Achtung!
Its a hatch back, WTF?
Did VW hire Murat Gunak?
He was crap at peugeot worse at mercedes-benz and now VW will be ruined by him.
Meh. A stretched out Golf, with lousy VW quality and service. Europe can keep it.
Overpriced, unreliable, weird German car - no thanks.
Scirocco looks more like a hot hatch than a tall wagon like the GTI. I realize that the GTI has the name, but still looks like a rabbit. In the U.S., wider is better, so this should appeal more to customers.
“the gas engines deliver 120, 158, or 145 horsepower. The diesel motor develops 140 horsepower” - whats the point to driving a cool car that is slow, its going to be heavier than gti, slower, and probably more expensive. I’ll pass.
I’m jealous of LP640mm.
Ooooooooooh, now it’s official!!! Sucks… this is not what I wanted to see!!! Not a revamped Golf V.
That car needs to get to US dealers now.
Were is the 2.0 motor? No comprende.
2.0 motor? I think you mean Where’s the VR6?
What the hell did they do to it!? They ruined the front end (among other things)!! And what kind of a weak ass engine is that? This should look like the concept, and have a 300hp engine.
What sucks even more is the interior and options look very nice (glass roof = awesome). Huge dissapointment.
Since they are afraid the Scirocco will Cannibalize precious GTI sales, why not just make it the new A3? Stretch it a few inches, add two doors, Audi face/interior upgrades, and more aggressive rear hatch spoiler. Also throw in the engine upgrades everyone is craving and you have a car that would draw customers from every walk of life.
If you were to do an exchange rate calculator the figures as as such: 1 euro=1.52 US dollars at the moment. So if the car is priced at 19K in Europe, it will be over 28k stateside. With the remodel of the A3 coming next year, why not just upgrade a current product by adding a few extras and price as one of your luxury models. Not only would it help absorb the cost of the platform but finally separates the A3/GTI as two distinct vehicles.