If we think about it really long and hard, we can maybe come up with a short list of lame reasons that Volkswagen of America might have for not bringing the third-generation VW Scirocco to these shores. Compounding our torture, the VW home office in Wolfsburg just had us over to Nice, France, to drive the on-fire 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R.
As we left for home after an inspiring drive through the mountains of Provence, we think we saw some German journalists in our rearview mirror, laughing it up and doing some sort of cruel neener-neener-neeener dance because they can buy this car today in Germany and we can't in America. That really knocked the stuffing out of us.
Would bringing over a 207-horsepower VW Scirocco 2.0 GT and this 261-hp VW Scirocco R really pose a threat to Golf and GTI sales when VW plans to sell four times more cars here within a decade anyway? Would this insanely sexy hot coupe not provide some significant image building for VW? Sure, the VW Jetta TDI Cup has aroused some interest on racetracks in North America this year, but what about a version of the Scirocco Cup series that VW has in China, Germany, the U.K. and soon in Japan? In times of crisis, here's a golden chance to work outside the box.
After a dash through the mountains of southern France where the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo is run every year, the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R brought tears to our eyes. All things considered, it's the best front-wheel-drive compact street racer on Earth. And it's sexier and gobs faster than any Mini John Cooper Works. Yes, exactly that good.
Makes Roads Sing
The D-roads of the Alpes-Maritimes in the Provence region of southern France are where any performance car needs to show up in order to make certain that it can live up to its own marketing hype. The back roads of California's Monterey County don't come close, and while the Nürburgring is a thrill, it can't stack up to the narrow tracks through the mountains above the Mediterranean that those loopy Provençals decided to pave all those decades ago. And there are no gendarmes in sight, never any radar traps that we've ever seen and rarely anything resembling traffic. It's the place where all who must drive the best in life must go.
The 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R brought tears to our eyes.
A 208-hp Mini John Cooper Works and 207-hp VW Golf GTI are excellent fun, and we have recently driven both like a bat out of hell on these same roads. While we had a legendary time doing it, the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R simply beats the JCW and GTI in speed, cornering and overall dynamics. It's also beautifully put together and has honest room for four full-size thrill-seekers.
With 261 hp available between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm plus 258 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm, this tightly engineered car feels fully alive, as it weighs just 3,007 pounds with the optional six-speed automated manual transmission (the standard six-speed manual transmission lightens the load by 44 pounds). Then there's the optional chassis control electronics to dial in the damping and the steering. And the standard brake-type limited-slip differential (introduced recently by the GTI version of the Golf Mk VI) does away with both torque steer and understeer.
Pointing and getting to where we want to go — and with how much throttle — is a piece of cake. The Scirocco R does exactly what we have in mind through every hard-scrabble hairpin, uphill or down.
Little Notes
Before we totally spaz out on delightfulness, we'll admit that every car built has design gaffes, even this one. For the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R, the "ESP Off" indicator actually means ESP Sport. In the most extreme setting, the stability control never goes off, but we can attest that in Sport mode the stability control intervenes extremely late and with a smoothness that helps rather than hinders the driving action.
Then there are two more minor items. There's the VW badge on the tailgate that looks like it should be the opening lever, only it isn't, so you cannot open the hatch by reaching for the hatch, which is definitely dopey no matter the explanation. And looking at the turbocharged direct-injection 2.0-liter EA113 inline-4 in the engine bay, we're sort of bummed that VW chose not to glam up the view with, say, red enameled "VW" and "TSI" lettering. Not to mention how nice it would be to lose altogether the drab-o-rama plastic cover that hides everything we'd want to see when an engine is at this level of tune.
Last, the optional six-speed dual-clutch DSG automated manual is great, except that even in Manual mode and with the chassis mode set for Sport excitement, the transmission will shift itself up to the next gear just a flea's hair away from the redline at 7,000 rpm. This only occurred three times during our most extreme moments in driver's paradise with this model of the R-type, but it does squelch the festivities when it happens. We longed (even if only in these moments) for the six-speed manual that we know we love already, but all test cars on this day had DSG.
And the Whining Ceased
Whatever. The 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco in R trim — inspired by the 2009 Scirocco GT24 racers (five of them, no less) that dominated their class at this year's Nürburgring 24 Hours — just plain cranks, and you can hear it though the twin exhaust tips. These optional 19-by-8-inch versions of the Talladega-style wheel that's specific to the Scirocco R (18-inch examples are standard) carry Bridgestone Potenza tires, and the treads never once blew their chance to hook up as the turbo delivered its peak boost of 17.4 psi. Meanwhile, the R-type's brake package with 13.6-inch front rotors and 12.2-inch rear rotors plus black enameled calipers did a great job all day long, even under our rally-style hammering.
Working with the chassis control option that actively monitors steering assistance, damper firmness and throttle response according to electronic chassis sensors, the Scirocco R works as advertised, even better when in Sport mode where the R's electric-assist steering offers the tightest feel of the Golf/Scirocco family. The center of gravity on a Scirocco is already low, with an overall height that is 3 inches less than a GTI (with wider front and rear tracks besides), yet the R setup takes this coupe a half inch lower still.
With input from Porsche Engineering at Porsche R&D in Weissach (all part of the same family now, remember), the Volkswagen engineers made the R-type springs 15 percent stiffer (yet not as stiff as in the new GTI) and then added slightly softer sway bars, resulting in a brilliant balance between cornering grip, chassis stability and ride compliance. With all of the opportunities to bottom out the dampers on these rally roads (even the mighty Col de Turini), we never once did so.
Fast-Lane Looks
Indulging in the higher revs, the R scoots to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.8 seconds with the dual-clutch DSG gearbox and the 3,200-rpm launch control, Volkswagen claims, and the exercise takes 6.0 seconds with the six-speed manual. Both estimates are conservative, we're willing to swear.
The 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R sits lower and gets you a front fascia with larger air intakes and an integrated front spoiler, black mirrors, extended rocker sills and a rear spoiler in body color, and a rear aero diffuser in black. You get bi-xenon headlights, smoked lenses for the taillights, chrome exhaust tips and the Talladega wheels.
Within the cabin, the flat-bottom steering wheel comes from the GTI, the seats get sportier, there are brushed-aluminum accents, and R logos are a-bloom. Broad-shouldered ultimate motorsport seats as offered on the R32 and GTI go on the options list, too, come June 2010.
VW's Four-Cylinder Orgy
Though this turbocharged direct-injection 2.0-liter inline-4 is the EA113 motor and not the just-introduced EA888 engine, VW R&D spokesman Guido Sever says it's best suited to the pumped-up R-type Scirocco. While the newer EA888 family version of the 2.0 TSI can be found for now in a 208-hp Scirocco and the GTI, this EA113 is featured in the 261-hp Audi S3 and the upcoming 267-hp all-wheel-drive Golf R, presumably because it's a little stouter. (The Golf R will most likely be the car that will make its way over to North America and lay to rest all the sentimentality about the V6-powered R32, and we're also told its engine will not be hidden under plastic!)
There are some interesting economics at work here between Volkswagen and Audi, since in all of its markets the Scirocco R costs nearly 22 percent less than an Audi TTS Quattro that uses the same powertrain. Even the AWD Golf R is set to cost considerably less than the TTS while delivering more power and torque. If it were sold in the U.S. for what it's worth, the R would probably be a $36,000 car like a Mitsubishi Evo or Subaru STI, but it would probably be a $30,000 car because of marketing considerations.
In the first two weeks of taking orders for the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R, more than 1,500 units were reserved and paid for. The take rate for the manual-transmission version has been 30 percent. But, then, we won't have this "problem" of choice over here, will we? Man, would it be a nice problem to have.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
Add A Comment »
donzifile says:
11:02 AM, 03/10/2010
I must say it I love this car, and if VW USA thinks it will compete with the GTI, there delusional and if it dose than maybe it should be the GTI and the GTI can go back to being what it is, a Gulf with a turbo motor and 80's seat coverings. With the demise of the GLI we got the Wolfsburg Edition Jetta, a bargain by comparison, when I 1st saw it last year with an under 20,000 dollar price tag, I thought why bother with a GLI and the 2010s are even better. If VW is worried about marketing, the GTI can be sold as a 4 door go fast family car and the Scirocco could be sold as the coup alternative and why not a GTI Sport Wagon?. I agree with Top Gear's assessment that a diesel powered Scirocco is a contradiction in terms, but VW needs to shy away from marketing an upscale R32 only type version in the US, just to expensive for gear heads like me with a mortgage, share the fun. A turbo 2 liter with 17's and a decent sounding stereo is all I need.
I read some of the VW reliability issues on this site and I think VW really needs to address stuff like this, knock on wood I haven't had any problems with my 2005 Jetta 2.5 entry level Sport, which has 60K on it, except for some minor issues with the plastic interior parts and the most annoying remote trunk lid ever, which goes South for the winter, I will fix this. My father-in-law has a 2006 version of the same car with 17K on it, opposed to my 60 and there is little difference the solidity between the 2, which speaks well for the structure and struts, I'm crazy about the black paint though and VW's dismal color choices compared to Audi and BMW. I picked up a nice set of brand new OEM 10 spokes though Vortex VW, with a set of new so-so 17" Bridgestones touring tires, but otherwise the Jetta 2.5S is fun understated car, not to mention a bargian, the new Jetta show car is a poor man's Audi A5, VW don't screw it up.
draw007 says:
03:31 PM, 12/22/2009
Sorry to dissapoint those looking from the outside in, but I have two VW's stting in my garage; an '06 GTI and a '09 CC. Neither vehicle has given me any problems - as opposed to the $50,000 '09 Ford F150 Platinum I traded in for my CC.
Hmmm, sagging headliner the dealer was unable to resolve after three futile attempts (you still want to use Velcro, huh?), seat bottoms detaching from their frame (no fix available), transmission that didn't like shifting into reverse when cold, and a horrible paint job (it's 2009, still can't lay it down without orange peel?). And Ford's quality is ranked higher than VW?
Just goes to show you can't always believe what you read and want to believe.
superm says:
02:37 PM, 12/22/2009
Anone crying about VW's so-called lack of reliability needs to understand the thrill that with bad quality... When will the car will catch on fire next? Have a CV pull apart? Vacuum hoses (including the power brakes) fail at 2.5 years? Have the *third* set of 4 coil packs replaced? *8* control arms in the front suspension?
And when your car gets flatbedded again, then there are the dealers...there are a freqkishly high percentage of VW owners who own the computer diagnostics software for the cars, and not just the hi-po tuners.
For the record all the above occurred during Passat ownership. And compared to MANY owners we were LUCKY!!!
ChromieD says:
10:36 AM, 12/22/2009
g35xfun, your preference is glaringly for the Japanese alternatives that try hard to copy German premium-ness with their edgy stop-gap limited issues and fall very short. They throw "sporty" chassis, shiney leather interiors, and frequently dead cabins at buyers for less money and the end result is, for many of us though clearly not for you, less good. And you apparently have a lot of spare cash for fuel. The VW Group motors are sensational and way ahead technologically versus the absolute-minimum innovation approach in Asia.
The G8, on the other hand, has power but no backbone to support it. Very typical hammering-Holdens-into-Pontiacs approach that ended up speeding their death just like with the other dinosaur American companies. Great party if it weren't a funeral.
You're definitely entitled to your likes and dislikes. But those "sporty" Infinitis and their kin are a room-temperature attempt to get the Germans where it hurts. Whenever they decide to approach a car as a holistic experience, I'll stop whining about them.
g35xfun says:
04:16 PM, 12/18/2009
Weak sauce. A 370z will kill it at the track and still come out ahead on dollars front ($29K starting price).
See
http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/370z/2009/index.html#search=open.eq..amp.p.eq.cvehicledata%23%23-1%23%23-1~~nf12||4e697373616e
For even dollars the anything from say a TSX, G8, to a G37 will still out perform it and provide more luxury and more room. Heck for those German car snobs, the BMW 128i might be a better choice and for a couple grand more you can line yourself up from extra money gouging with a 328i, but still come out ahead dollar wise over anything from VW/Audi.
And no one in their right mind should ever bother with VW/Audi with their responsibility shirking mode of operation and reliability and dependability that is worse than Chrysler, GM and only better than Land Rovers. I should know I had an S4 that blew it's transmission three times (among many other troubles) and all Audi wanted to was to replace it with used transmission while under warranty and have nothing to with it the moment it was out of warranty.
myob says:
12:12 PM, 12/18/2009
VW's are interesting and cool. I wouldn't want to own one. I've spent time at their dealerships. I've read the VW enthusiast website horror stories. No thanks.
This car seems too close in concept to the GTI for them to want to sell it here. The more powerful version would be in the price range of luxury brand cars, and the 2.0T version is just too close to the GTI, and it appears to lose some practicality to it.
They make some cool cars. But they're not Honda reliable. But even then, if they had a solid reputation for non-excuses fixing problems w/o any drama, you might take a chance. But combine mediocre reliability with a sleazy beyond belief set of dealers and they'll be lucky to survive the recession as people start thinking more about basic transportation needs rather than the things VW does so well. At some point, when you're broke, you just want the car to work, you can live with a plasticy interior.
flwind says:
02:42 PM, 12/17/2009
This car could easily be sold as an Audi, say an S1 or S3. They can then give it the 35k price tag and all would be well. Being that they are selling the TT for over 40k (over 50k in some trims) and its not nearly as sexy as this, then selling this in the US should be quite easy.
rickerbr says:
12:48 PM, 12/17/2009
I agree, the sooner VW AG (Germany) wakes up and stops Jacoby from making Toyota and GM style decisions, the brighter the future is for VW GA. I am a die hard VW guy and I waited for the Scirocco to come and it didn't. I'm now waiting for the Golf R, if it doesn't come, I'm giving up on VW as a supplier of new cars for enthusiasts.
dieseltc says:
07:25 AM, 12/17/2009
Chromie, like BMW, VW's are over-engineered. They take the simplest component and over complicate it making it likely to break down.
You have to stay on top of the maintenance with them. For me, it's not a big deal but for the average person who remembers to change the oil after 20k miles, it's going to end up bad. Of course things like failing coil packs are unacceptable.
As for VWOA leadership, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a shake up in the near future. They have been failing on so many levels. Their one simple job is to understand the North American market and they haven't a clue.
wikiwiki says:
06:54 AM, 12/17/2009
Consumer Reports does not rank VWs as high on the reliability scale. Enough said. I love VWs but would never buy one. I know several people who own/owned a VW and they ALL had major problems after a few years of ownership. Windows falling out of the tracks, oil leaks, major engine failures, etc. At first they are awesome but they are not built to last. I'll take my Civic Si in dark blue.