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]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andrew @ Jun 15th 2006 8:59AM
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.
GhostDoggy @ Jun 15th 2006 9:00AM
Not sure I'm ready to hand over $34K plus dealer premiums to this VW.
epilonious @ Jun 15th 2006 9:29AM
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.
Stumpy @ Jun 15th 2006 9:41AM
I think that car looks REALLY good. Course I do love them little sporty hatchbacks!!
mickster @ Jun 15th 2006 9:48AM
OOOOH-The love child of a Honda Civic Si and a Toyota Yaris!
Collins @ Jun 15th 2006 10:10AM
'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.
Rob Lowe @ Jun 15th 2006 10:11AM
Until they can build a reliable vehicle that isn't in the lowest 2% of JD Power surveys who cares
KT @ Jun 15th 2006 10:44AM
Bring back the Corrado!!!
ODB @ Jun 15th 2006 10:51AM
Yet another vw that will be found broken down on the side of the road.
Noah @ Jun 15th 2006 10:59AM
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
jwbrockman @ Jun 15th 2006 11:31AM
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.
Howard Kerr @ Jun 15th 2006 12:34PM
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.
FatPaulie @ Jun 15th 2006 12:47PM
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.
Limestallc @ Jun 15th 2006 1:10PM
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.
Michael Ryan @ Jun 15th 2006 1:15PM
Why not just call it a Golf Coupe! I'd be more excited it it was a full blown Corrado!
JZeke @ Jun 15th 2006 1:53PM
$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?
Eric @ Jun 15th 2006 1:59PM
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?
Milos @ Jun 15th 2006 1:59PM
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.
Mike @ Jun 15th 2006 3:03PM
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.
naggs @ Jun 15th 2006 3:37PM
noone is going to pay 24-36 grand for a fwd "sports car"