2012 Volkswagen Scirocco Reviews

Naming your cars after winds can be as tricky as sailing into them. Volkswagen claims the German word for the trade winds that charted early sail boats as the name for its family model, Passat.But with 188kW and the attitude of a psychotic guard dog, a soft breeze wouldn't wash over the two-door version of the hot Golf R.That's why the Scirocco - a hurricane-size wind that blows north from the Sahara into the Mediterranean - so suits Volkswagen's coupe and explains that even Maserati was enamoured with the same wind by twice using using its Arabic name, Ghibli, for high-performance cars. Even Errol Flynn's first yacht filled its sails in the Pacific wearing the name spelt as Sirocco.VALUEI expected it to cost more. At $47,490 - and an extra $2500 for the six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto - it has the h ot looks, bristling performance and thundering exhaust note to trounce coupes with double its price tag.The kit is expansive, starting with the eight-speaker audio with Bluetooth and iPod/USB connection, bi-xenon headlights and 19-inch alloys, heated seats and park sensors, and electronic adjustable suspension damping.mThere's 345 nation-wide sales to June 1 this year, indicating it's also pleasingly uncommon.DESIGNEven since I saw one - white with silver alloys and red brake calipers - rumbling through a narrow, cobblestone Berlin street five years ago, it has become one of my key yardstick cars.Its design is purposeful yet beautiful, feminine in parts with its sculptured hips and chamfered nose, while relaying undeniable strength. Inside, my love diminishes somewhat - not because it's done badly but because I've seen all of it before in other Volkswagen products. It seats four adults - ensure they're not to tall for the rear, however - and the boot is surprisingly deep (mainly b ecause there's no spare wheel).TECHNOLOGYThe Scirocco arrives in Australia in one version only - the 188kW/330Nm wearing the R label. This is the white-hot version of our 155kW Golf GTI and uses the same direct-injection turbo-petrol engine as the $49,990 all-wheel drive Golf R.Scirocco deletes the AWD and saves 120kg over the Golf, but with a 0-100km/h of 6.2sec, still isn't as quick as the grippy Golf's 5.9sec sprint. Scirocco shares the Golf R's extended electronic diff lock (XDL) that successfully improves traction and minimises understeer. It also has three-mode damper adjustment - normal, sport and comfort - and electric steering.SAFETYNo crash rating for this car. It's regarded as a limited production car - like all Porsches, for example - so doesn't get to kiss the concrete wall. But given it's based on the Golf, it should be seen as a "safe'' car.Standard gear includes six airbags, electronic stability and traction control, tyre pressure monitors, heated mirrors, park  sensors, bi-xenon headlights and a hill holder. There's no spare wheel, just aerosol goo and a compressor.DRIVINGDon't expect that because it's based on the Golf R that it feels like one. In fact, the Scirocco's lower seating position amplifies its performance aggression and, combined with the tuned exhaust note - that burbles and grumbles, roars and screams in proportion to right-foot pressure - makes all the car's dynamics come alive.It's quick, though you find that halfway through the rev range. Under about 3000rpm it's docile enough to go shopping. Hit the pedal hard and the acceleration is so instant it almost pulls its own clothes off. Handling is very, very good - more grip that you'd expect from a front-drive car thanks to electronics fiddling with the diff and the ABS system. Purists would prefer a mechanical system but our streets are not race tracks.The car's suspension is best left in "comfort'' mode for the city and suburbs, clicked to "sport'' for country roads. Ride in sport is firm - you get kicked in the butt on rough roads - but keeps the car flat through the curves. Clearly, it's a lot of fun.VERDICTWonderful piece of art that works on so many levels. But two doors limit cabin accessibility making the five-door Golf R a worthy alternative.

Volkswagen have been clever by introducing its Scirocco coupe in full-on ‘R’ guise

The new Golf-based Scirocco isn't actually very new. As a nameplate, Scirocco has been around since the 1970s and pre-dates even the Golf. But Australian buyers have spent decades lusting after the small coupe in vain.Until now. This model has been on sale in Europe since 2008 but arrives here, mid-lifecycle, for the first time. In the past, Volkswagen was concerned that the Scirocco would hit three-door Golf sales - or vice versa. The Scirocco is a Golf coupe, in effect, and the two models share engineering.So it has compromised. Only the top-spec Scirocco R is offered and the three-door Golf R has been deleted to make room. The Golf GTI still comes as a three-door or five.VALUEThe Scirocco R sits between those two go-fast Golfs on price and performance. It has the same 188kW turbocharged four-cylinder as the R but lacks its all-wheel drive, instead directing power to the front wheels only, like the GTI. It costs about $5000 more than a GTI but is $2500 more affordable than a Golf R.Aside from other Volkswagens, European performance three-doors under $50,000 are thin on the ground. Its closest rivals are a Mini Cooper S or a Renault Megane RS250. Both are desirable and slightly cheaper.DESIGNThere's less flamboyance about the Scirocco, although it's impossible to dislike its cultured Teutonic curves. Inside, it's as dark and sober a cabin as we've come to expect from Volkswagen, enlivened here and there by pleasing details, including a great wheel. The upholstery disdains the leather usually offered at this level for two-tone micro-fibre sports seats.The fronts tilt-slide for access to the back, where there's enough room for two adults although they sit a bit skewed because the rear seats are set inboard. The headrests need cut-outs to avoid obstructing rear vision. It's adequate, but forward sight is compromised through corners by extremely thick A-pillars.DRIVEThere were corners aplenty on the drive this week into the Victorian Alps, which turned on torrential rain and thick fog. It was an unwelcome test, but showed the car would be a podium chance at the winter Olympics. It lapped up the wet roads without missing a beat, holding its line through corners with unexpected levels of sureness. Against the odds, given the conditions, it was an enjoyable drive.The accurate steering makes it easy to place on the road and even though it isn't the most tactile relationship with the front wheels, you get a sense of what they're doing. I was left wondering whether the all-wheel drive in the Golf R was worth the extra cost. Removing the all-wheel-drive components mean the Scirocco is 125kg lighter than the Golf R and it felt lighter and more agile.This is partly thanks to a differential that works with the electronic stability control to selectively brake the inside wheel during hard cornering. The Scirocco also gets an adaptive suspension system as standard, with three modes from comfort to sport. Its wider track and larger 19-inch standard wheels also help, but I had doubts about what they would do for the ride quality. Even on the surprisingly good surfaces in Victoria's High Country, the ride could get fidgety. And noisy, with too much tyre roar.On pure straight line pace, the Golf R still has an edge. They share the same direct-injection turbocharged 2.0-litre with identical power and torque figures except for a slightly broader torque band in the hatchback. The Golf R's superior all-wheel drive traction allows it to overcome its weight disadvantage and sprint more quickly to 100km/h, by 0.3 seconds. In practice, they both feel respectably quick and the Scirocco DSG -- at 6.0s to the limit -- is almost a second quicker than the Golf GTI.This unit has an addictive mid-range that seems to go for ever and it's very flexible, so third gear is often low enough even for slow-speed corners. It pulls strongly uphill and doesn't even sound too bad for a turbocharged four, which can be a bit industrial on the ear.What it loses in pace, the Scirocco gains in efficiency with an idle-stop system making it easier on fuel. Unusually these days the manual, at 8.1 litres per 100km, slightly outperforms the six-speed double-clutch automatic. Since this engine requires 98RON, any margin is worthwhile and the gearbox has a neat action.VERDICTOf course, coupes mean compromise. You won't be able to load up at Ikea quite like you can in a Golf. It's a small price to pay. With the Scirocco, Volkswagen has a winner.

Here's a really difficult Euro coupe choice for you - the razor sharp and raunchy-looking Renault Megane RS250 or the new and equally raunchy-looking Volkswagen Scirocco R?Volkswagen has finally landed its "uber" front drive coupe and it goes as well as it looks. Pricing starts at $47,490 for the six-speed manual Scirocco compared with the Renault's kick off price of $41,990. Four options are available on Scirocco - satnav, DSG manumatic, a Dynaudio sound system and a glass sunroof. Tick these boxes and you are nudging the $55 grand mark.But balanced against this is the fact that the striking Scirocco is an impressive car offering superb performance from its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and surprisingly accomplished dynamics thanks to the electronic diff' lock and other electronic trickery to keep it on the straight and narrow.UNDER THE BONNETStrong performance percolates from the 2.0-litre, turbo, direct injection, four pot lifted from Golf R but without all wheel drive. It's around 135kg lighter than Golf R and produces 188kW/330Nm. The lighter makes Scirocco R is a marginally quicker device that uses slightly less fuel rated at around 8.0-litres/100km. Six-speed transmissions are available in a DSG manumatic and a conventional manual. Both are fully engaging for the driver.DYNAMICSVW equips Scirocco with adaptive chassis control offering Comfort, Normal and Sport. The electronic diff' lock has extended functions (XDL) as per Golf GTi and the stability control has a sports calibration. Wheels are 19-inch with low profile sports rubber and the brakes are multi-piston sports units with prodigious stopping power and resistance to fade. The rigid chassis provides a platform for all dynamic functions to work properly.INSIDENo leather is offered, it's perforated cloth only in  semi-race seats with suede inserts on the side bolsters to hold you in place. No lumbar adjustment though. The classy dash is typical VW with quality materials, sensible layout and some "wow" features like the blue highlight dials, 12-mode trip computer and multi-function, flat-bottom suede steering wheel. The standard audio is worthy and the optional satnav has a huge screen but doesn't offer "safety" information. There's adequate room for four and a decent load space. Manual seat adjustment though.OUTSIDEScirocco rates as one of the most handsome cars on the road right now. It crouches as though ready to pounce and has a reptilian look around the frontal area. The rear haunches look muscular and the rear has a squat, powerful look accentuated by dual exhaust outlets. There are LED driving lights and bixenon headlights and those machine-like alloys - fantastic, but no red - what?SAFETYIt's a five star car offering six air bags, adjustable stability control and other crash protection features.ON THE ROADWe had a good old drive up in the Victoria high country where the Scirocco slipped straight into character - carving up the corners and shortening the straights. There's a gorgeous rush of power from low in the rev range that makes spinning it to redline unnecessary. Short shift and it cracks straight into the fat torque band and leaps forward. The DSG generates a stirring exhaust pop on upchanges and blips the throttle on downchanges. It handles beautifully, especially when set for sport though there is a touch of steering backlash on bumpy corners taken at speed. Brake abuse hardly affects the car's stopping power. The lack of lumbar support could be an issue for some drivers but otherwise Scirocco is a comfortable, well appointed coupe with some classy touches. No spare though.VERDICTFabulous car, engaging, well mannered, flattering, sensational looks, plenty of kit.

The price is right for the VW Scirocco, even if the timing is three years late.