Report: Volkswagen Scirocco green-lighted
After a seemingly interminable number of artist renderings and computer-generated 'spyshots' (including the shot seen above), AutoWeek says that Volkswagen has given the neo-Scirocco the go-ahead.
According to the magazine's sources, buyers can expect the coupe to command $28,000 in base spec (front-wheel-drive, four-pot). An all-wheel-drive 3.6-liter V6 is expected to be the top rung, which we would guess would start at about $34,000 if AutoWeek's estimate is in the ballpark.
Click through for more scuttlebutt on VW's coming hot wind.
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andrew 8:59AM (6/15/2006)
Isn't that getting close to Audi TT terrtory? Sounds like it'll probabily be built off the Golf platform just like the TT as well.
Reply
GhostDoggy 9:00AM (6/15/2006)
Not sure I'm ready to hand over $34K plus dealer premiums to this VW.
Reply
epilonious 9:29AM (6/15/2006)
I think the Audi TT has a much more defined "look" that it will have to stick to (much like the New Beetle and the PT Cruiser)... namely it's "roadster" form with a small pinch on the rear to form a trunk (much more prominent in the convertible). But really, if any company has pulled up successful cross-platforming (which has also been sassily called brand engineering) it has been VAG. They know how to tinker with sheetmetal and trim to make vastly different cars out of the same platform... Ironically the cars you'd think share platforms just by similar exterior looks and dimensions are usually the ones that don't.
The Scirocco seems like an amalgum of the above-mentioned cross-platform technique and the good-ol VW retro-refresh. It'll be interesting to see how the market takes it and how it shapes up next to the GTI.
Reply
Stumpy 9:41AM (6/15/2006)
I think that car looks REALLY good. Course I do love them little sporty hatchbacks!!
Reply
mickster 9:48AM (6/15/2006)
OOOOH-The love child of a Honda Civic Si and a Toyota Yaris!
Reply
Collins 10:10AM (6/15/2006)
'Bout time VW come's out with a Sport Coupe, if it look's anything like the above picture, Then it'll be good. If it were just a little bit longer though.
Reply
Rob Lowe 10:11AM (6/15/2006)
Until they can build a reliable vehicle that isn't in the lowest 2% of JD Power surveys who cares
Reply
KT 10:44AM (6/15/2006)
Bring back the Corrado!!!
Reply
ODB 10:51AM (6/15/2006)
Yet another vw that will be found broken down on the side of the road.
Reply
Noah 10:59AM (6/15/2006)
I'd call myself an old time Volkswagen fancier but this is one name they should have left in the past. The rocco was a great car, but today's VW has a lot less to do with affordable German quality and a lot more to do with premium prices and faulty...everything. I'll stick to VWs made BEFORE 1993.
--Noah
Reply
jwbrockman 11:31AM (6/15/2006)
I assume I am not alone amongst readers of this article when I say that I felt an immediate burst of excitement upon seeing the Scirocco name that was completely deflated by the word of it's price. The market does not need another sports coupe that's priced just out of reach of the younger buyers who most desire it. Why couldn't this have been a more attractive, sportier, yet less practical, similarly priced alternative to the bulbous, overweight GTI? At 34k it will be hopelessly outclassed by any number of much more capable vehicles.
Reply
Howard Kerr 12:34PM (6/15/2006)
It's interesting, Honda (actually, Acura) stops selling a coupe that's CHEAPER than the starting price for a Scirocco due to slow sales. I like this car but the price is ridiculous, considering VW's less than stellar reliability. I hope it sells, but doubt it will.
Reply
FatPaulie 12:47PM (6/15/2006)
I agree with the above poster on price. If VW wants to bring a small golf-based coupe to market, it needs to go up against the 2-door Civic coupe, the defunct RSX, and the Hyundai Tiburon.
That's the young market segment that's attracted to a car like this, and VW needs to price to that segment, starting in the upper-teens and being nicely equipped for less than 25k US.
Let their Audi division chase BMW, and let VW be the people's car once again. It's a disappointing time to be a VW fan.
Reply
Limestallc 1:10PM (6/15/2006)
I think its a nice looking car and everything but way overpriced at that price i would have automatically switched to thinking about getting an Audi maybe an A4 or TT. Hell could go a bit higher on the payments and go for an S4. VW needs to stick to its lower prices or this will turn out about as good as the Phaeton did.
Reply
Michael Ryan 1:15PM (6/15/2006)
Why not just call it a Golf Coupe! I'd be more excited it it was a full blown Corrado!
Reply
JZeke 1:53PM (6/15/2006)
$28k?
Wow, "People's car" my A**. The Scion Tc is one of the best selling youth cars on the market, and doing stellar for the coupe segment. VW shoulda been targeting that. You're gonna have to be mighty self-concious to choose one of these over a 350Z, WRX, or even GTI.
And arent high prices what killed the Corrado anyway?
Reply
Eric 1:59PM (6/15/2006)
Look, we North American types still need to clear the hurdle of 'Will it even MAKE IT OVER to NA'? There's still speculation as to whether or not the new .:R32 (or .:R36 depending on who you talk to) will cross the Atlantic. IMO if you put the EXACT same drivetrain in a new 'Rocco, you're just asking for trouble. You're going to segment an already tight, niche market.
And why can't VAG sell an AWD platform sub $25k?!?!?! Subaru does it, they definitely should be able to. This new should start at ~$23k with the 2.0T AND AWD! Something like a 3.0 VR6 with AWD would be a nice higher end option, but only if it's ~ $27k. We don't NEED a 3.6L FSI with 300 horsies in a Scirocco. Send the .:R36 over here to fill that niche, please VAG? Listen to your fans (read: potential buyers) please?
Reply
Milos 1:59PM (6/15/2006)
It does look nice (like Eos coupe), but i think that's not going to guarantee it's market success. I agree with other posters that VW is dangerously overlaping audi's market. Vw means people's car and therefore this car should be priced and marketed like that scion coupe - cheap, realiable, relatively potent and fun car for new generation,sort in a way that beetle was in 50s or 60s. If it's going to be positioned like Phaeton (too close to Audi A8) it will be just another waste of money for VW, without serious profit.
Reply
Mike 3:03PM (6/15/2006)
build it on the polo platform as a cheap little sporty coupe and give it to NA. and while you're at it, give us the polo. hell, give us the lupo.
Reply
naggs 3:37PM (6/15/2006)
noone is going to pay 24-36 grand for a fwd "sports car"
Reply