VW IROC Concept unveiled!
UPDATE - high resolution photo gallery and VW press release after the jump
Volkswagen has released official images of its IROC concept that will debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show in September. The release was prompted by scans that reached the internet today of a Spanish auto mag that had broken the embargo on the official shots. The IROC's name is a nod to the Scirocco, the sporty little VW that was sold in the Seventies, Eighties and even early Nineties and that will be resurrected as this vehicle (in production trim, of course) by late 2008. The Car Connection reports that even the IROC's color – Viper Green – was available on the 1976 Scirocco, further tying the concept to the original Scirocco.
So here's what we know about the IROC Concept from various sources:
At first we were a bit aghast at the IROC's appearance. The concept's basic shape is that of a low-slung hatchback, and Volkswagen already has a pair of hot hatches in the GTI and R32. We were expecting a more coupe-like profile, or at least a more swept back rear end rather than the upright hatchback rear we find on the IROC. However, the pictures found at the The Car Connection put the concept in a great light and really accentuate its muscular shape, which makes us more than eager to see the car in person next month.
More pictures:
[Source: TCC, AutoWeek, LLN]
VOLKSWAGEN REVEALS IROC SPORTS CAR CONCEPT
Volkswagen has revealed its Iroc sports car concept at a special event in Berlin this evening. The Iroc marks the return of the Scirocco, Volkswagen's iconic sports coupé, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show 33 years ago.
Even in colour, with its Viper Green metallic paint, the Iroc harks back to the Scirocco, where this exact shade was available in the 1976 model range. The Iroc has distinctive dimensions, with a very long roof and steeply sloping rear, which not only gives it an aggressive and sporting appearance, it also liberates space in the back for two adults plus luggage.
In size, the Iroc is slightly longer (36 mm) than the Golf, measuring 4,240 mm and
41 mm wider at 1,800 mm. Its wheelbase is over 10 cm longer than that of the Golf at 2,680 mm; however with its squat coupé-like stance, it is 79 mm shorter at 1,400 mm. The Iroc has 19" alloy wheels.
The design of the Iroc is distinctive and eye-catching. It uses a Volkswagen 'face' which is not yet common to other vehicles in the range, though the honeycomb-shaped structure of the radiator grille is undoubtedly a link to the Golf GTI. Another notable feature is the lack of obvious A pillars, due to the wide windscreen which overlaps them at the front.
Inside, the Iroc has four seats, as well as a spacious boot of 300 litres, which can be increased if the rear seats are folded down. Despite this practicality, the Iroc has been clearly designed inside as a sports car, with features such as front bucket seats and integrated five-point seat belts with central buckle.
Most distinctive, however, are the gauges and controls in the Iroc's cabin. Two large and newly-designed round instruments form the visual centre of the cockpit. The driver looks into two cylinders with twelve illuminated bars which create a three dimensional segmentation within the instruments.
Under the bonnet, the Iroc features Volkswagen's ground-breaking TSI petrol technology, which uses a turbocharger and a supercharger to produce diesel-like consumption with impressive performance. Designed to maximise driving fun, the concept has a 210 bhp TSI engine, but a range of TSIs, starting from under 150 bhp, are also feasible.
The Iroc combines practicality with driving fun and expressive design in a car that as a possible series-production vehicle would be attractively positioned in price.
The Scirocco was a huge success for Volkswagen, with over half a million examples of the Giugiaro-designed first generation produced. It was launched in the UK in 1974, with the second generation following in 1981. When sales stopped in 1993, 77,460 Sciroccos had been sold in the UK.
Volkswagen has released official images of its IROC concept that will debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show in September. The release was prompted by scans that reached the internet today of a Spanish auto mag that had broken the embargo on the official shots. The IROC's name is a nod to the Scirocco, the sporty little VW that was sold in the Seventies, Eighties and even early Nineties and that will be resurrected as this vehicle (in production trim, of course) by late 2008. The Car Connection reports that even the IROC's color – Viper Green – was available on the 1976 Scirocco, further tying the concept to the original Scirocco.
So here's what we know about the IROC Concept from various sources:
- 36mm longer and 41mm wider than the Golf hatchback
- 3.3 inches lower than Golf GTI
- 2+2 seating configuration
- five-point racing harnesses up front
- 10.6 cubic feet of trunk space (more with rear seats folded)
- 210-hp TSI engine
- front-wheel drive
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- will reach showrooms by end of 2008
At first we were a bit aghast at the IROC's appearance. The concept's basic shape is that of a low-slung hatchback, and Volkswagen already has a pair of hot hatches in the GTI and R32. We were expecting a more coupe-like profile, or at least a more swept back rear end rather than the upright hatchback rear we find on the IROC. However, the pictures found at the The Car Connection put the concept in a great light and really accentuate its muscular shape, which makes us more than eager to see the car in person next month.
More pictures:
[Source: TCC, AutoWeek, LLN]
VOLKSWAGEN REVEALS IROC SPORTS CAR CONCEPT
Volkswagen has revealed its Iroc sports car concept at a special event in Berlin this evening. The Iroc marks the return of the Scirocco, Volkswagen's iconic sports coupé, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show 33 years ago.
Even in colour, with its Viper Green metallic paint, the Iroc harks back to the Scirocco, where this exact shade was available in the 1976 model range. The Iroc has distinctive dimensions, with a very long roof and steeply sloping rear, which not only gives it an aggressive and sporting appearance, it also liberates space in the back for two adults plus luggage.
In size, the Iroc is slightly longer (36 mm) than the Golf, measuring 4,240 mm and
41 mm wider at 1,800 mm. Its wheelbase is over 10 cm longer than that of the Golf at 2,680 mm; however with its squat coupé-like stance, it is 79 mm shorter at 1,400 mm. The Iroc has 19" alloy wheels.
The design of the Iroc is distinctive and eye-catching. It uses a Volkswagen 'face' which is not yet common to other vehicles in the range, though the honeycomb-shaped structure of the radiator grille is undoubtedly a link to the Golf GTI. Another notable feature is the lack of obvious A pillars, due to the wide windscreen which overlaps them at the front.
Inside, the Iroc has four seats, as well as a spacious boot of 300 litres, which can be increased if the rear seats are folded down. Despite this practicality, the Iroc has been clearly designed inside as a sports car, with features such as front bucket seats and integrated five-point seat belts with central buckle.
Most distinctive, however, are the gauges and controls in the Iroc's cabin. Two large and newly-designed round instruments form the visual centre of the cockpit. The driver looks into two cylinders with twelve illuminated bars which create a three dimensional segmentation within the instruments.
Under the bonnet, the Iroc features Volkswagen's ground-breaking TSI petrol technology, which uses a turbocharger and a supercharger to produce diesel-like consumption with impressive performance. Designed to maximise driving fun, the concept has a 210 bhp TSI engine, but a range of TSIs, starting from under 150 bhp, are also feasible.
The Iroc combines practicality with driving fun and expressive design in a car that as a possible series-production vehicle would be attractively positioned in price.
The Scirocco was a huge success for Volkswagen, with over half a million examples of the Giugiaro-designed first generation produced. It was launched in the UK in 1974, with the second generation following in 1981. When sales stopped in 1993, 77,460 Sciroccos had been sold in the UK.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Danielle 10:42AM (1/14/2009)
This is cracking really like this car! One of the best cars av seen!
Reply
Richard Warren 3:41PM (8/24/2006)
I like it!
Reply
turd tunnel 3:42PM (8/24/2006)
the US won't see it nor will we see the S3. Sad.
Reply
Ryan 3:43PM (8/24/2006)
I think it looks pretty cool, a little bit like how the new front end of the Mitsu Lancer/EVO line will, but that stops after the front end from what I can tell. Other than that, IROC? Is that Camaro?
Looks decent.
Reply
Nick R 3:44PM (8/24/2006)
So, when are they going to be racing this at Daytona? I wanna see Little E take on Danica in this sucker at 170 mph- FWD VW International Race of Champions, hot damn Billy Bob!
Reply
PJ 3:49PM (8/24/2006)
"...and a pricetag of $26,000."
I was afraid of that. I suppose this pricing will slot the Scirocco right in between the GTI, R32, and Audi TT, but it seems *very* steep for a 210-horsepower front-driver--especially with the 350Z, RX-8, Mustang, and (by 2008) Camaro, Challenger, and turbocharged Kappa roadsters occupying the same price bracket. Not to mention Audi's A3.
I guess it'll have to sell on styling and premium interior ambiance, which should at least make for an interesting rivalry with Volvo's similar C30.
Reply
peyay 3:56PM (8/24/2006)
i thought it was the new evo untill i started reading i think its a complete copy of the new evo ..... atleast the front end
Reply
Steve S 4:57PM (8/25/2006)
If the make it with AWD then it could be interesting.
Reply
Ben 4:03PM (8/24/2006)
sweet. looks like a EcoRacer + GTI hybrid. :)
Reply
Sean C 4:05PM (8/24/2006)
The last Scirocco came to the states in 89, not the "90's". After that the Corrado arrive (the best and worst car ever built by VW)
Reply
Mad Scientist Matt 4:06PM (8/24/2006)
Is that IROC as in International Race of Champions? Kind of amusing to see that circle from Germany (Porsche) to the United States (Camaros and Daytonas) and back to Germany if that's the case.
Reply
jack_brack 4:06PM (8/24/2006)
That's hot!
But what's with VW copying Jap cars recently...first the Corolla, now the Evo. Where'd the VW originality go?
Reply
jammypup 4:13PM (8/24/2006)
Front is great, even down to the clamshell hood but the back end looks like the original design/concet sketches for the Golf 5.
By that I mean that initial design sketches always have bigger wheels, filled out arches, more extreme rake, look chopped etc and the sketches for the golf 5 looked awesome, much like the back end of this IROC. Of course the production versions are toned down but I can't help feeling that this should be the back end of the golf 6 and the IROC should keep the front but change the back somehow.
Reply
Alex 4:30PM (8/24/2006)
lost interest right there: "front-wheel drive"...
Reply
tr 4:35PM (8/24/2006)
the front end styling isn't copying the evo X concept, it's copying VW's own ecoracer concept. the grill isn't even the same shape as the mitsubishi's.
but i will say i'm disappointed in this, because to me, it looks like VW just re-skinned the Audi Shooting Brake Concept. take a look:
FRONT
Iroc: http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/1-volkswagen-iroc-concept.jpg
Shooting Brake: http://www.audiworld.com/news/05/shootingbrake/shootingbrake001b.jpg
Reply
tr 4:36PM (8/24/2006)
(con't)
REAR
Iroc: http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/3-volkswagen-iroc-scirocco-2008-2009-concept.jpg
Shooting Brake: http://clabedan.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/audi_shooting_brake_2.jpeg
Reply
WillDaThrill 4:51PM (8/24/2006)
You lost me at front wheel drive. It's nice though, but it's time to put the power back where it belongs; that or make it AWD.
Reply
jammypup 5:04PM (8/24/2006)
Forgot to add:
At last VW are doing meaner looking head lamps instead of the fairground ride horse nostrils that seemed to be their new styling signature as I said here
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/01/spy-shots-2008-volkswagan-tiguan/#comments
Reply
Chet Parsons 8:36AM (8/29/2006)
I can't beleive no one noticed (or at least mentioned) the license plates that actually say "SIROCCO with the IROC highlighted! Could IROC just be the name for the conept??? Maybe the Sirocco name will be revived after all?
Reply
ruggels 5:07PM (8/24/2006)
i'd hit it in a heart beat. the 1.4tsi's weight savings should make it quicker then the GTI and i'd love to drive something faster then the GTI that gets close to 40mpg! w00t. Count me in
Reply