Click image above for live shots of the production Scirocco
Walking around the Geneva Motor Show this morning, we spotted the production 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco . Actually there were three of them: A white one and two red examples. Although not as outrageous as the IROC Concept, it's still a wild looking ride. The Pokemon snout is gone, and surprisingly, so is the double-decker grille. What is left is a hot little coupe that basically looks like an Audi A3 three-door with styling more reminiscent of something from Alfa Romeo. A squashed R32 is another way of thinking of it, but in a tasteful way. The new coupe will be in European showrooms by late summer starting at 21,750 euros in the home market. Full press release after the jump, but enough chit-chat, check out the pics.
Press Release
Volkswagen in Geneva: international debut of the new Scirocco
Sporty and innovative – The Scirocco with adaptive chassis control and 7-speed DSG
Versatile and affordable – The legendary two-door makes its comeback
Wolfsburg / Geneva, 03 March 2008 - Volkswagen is putting on a spectacular parade of new models in Geneva with a host of international product debuts. Taking centre stage will be the highlight of the show, the new Scirocco – a completely re-engineered all-round sports car. Another vehicle being showcased at Lake Geneva is the Golf TDI Hybrid. This concept car runs on just 3.4 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres. The 150-PS Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel, also debuting in Geneva, represents a technology leap for automobiles run on natural gas. Other Volkswagen world premieres will be the extremely fuel-efficient Sharan BlueMotion (6.0 litres per 100 km) and the four-wheel-drive Golf Estate 4Motion. The Passat CC will also be on display for the first time ever in Europe.
It's back: 34 years after the first Scirocco was unveiled to a waiting world at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen is presenting a new Scirocco for a new era at the same venue. Now as then, the coupé is inspired by the fascinating idea of creating a sports car for every day of the year at truly affordable prices. And that is the essence of the Scirocco: the successful marriage top technology and low running costs, dynamic performance and high comfort, a surprisingly spacious interior and an uncompromising sporty design.
As the Volkswagen Group's Chairman of the Board of Management, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, commented: "What we have done with the Scirocco is to put the kind of sports car in our showrooms that people have dreamed of owning. A dream that a good deal of motorists – in spite of all the high-end engineering we have integrated – can actually afford." The Scirocco will be launched Europe-wide in late summer with prices in Germany starting at 21,750 euros; other countries will follow over the course of the next year.
With its Golf TDI Hybrid, Volkswagen demonstrates the potential inherent in the combination of a high-tech diesel engine, an electric motor and 7-speed DSG technology. On show for the first time in the world at the Geneva Motor Show, the concept car consumes no more than 3.4 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres. The powerful full-hybrid Golf TDI Hybrid can be run either in internal-combustion mode only or in mixed operation – the powerful yet thrifty combination of TDI and electric motor. The car is also designed to run on emissions-free electric power only. Power transmission to the front axle is managed by a 7-speed DSG gearbox. In city traffic, the automatic stop-start system will even switch off the turbo-diesel when the vehicle is stationary.
The Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel being premiered in Geneva marks the beginning of a new era for natural-gas-fuelled automobiles. Until now, passenger cars powered by eco-friendly, low-consumption natural gas have tended to be "mild mannered". The Passat changes that once and for all with its 110-kW / 150-PS TSI engine. And yet the direct-injection turbo engine in the Passat, specifically designed to run on natural gas, consumes no more than 5.2 kilograms of gas per 100 kilometres. The Passat and the Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel are due to be launched on the market around year-end.
Volkswagen is continuing its BlueMotion campaign in 2008. The latest model in the series is the Sharan BlueMotion on display for the first time at the Geneva show. With an extremely low average fuel consumption of 6.0 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres, the Sharan BlueMotion uses 0.7 of a litre less than the "conventional" model. By the same token, CO2 emissions are reduced from 177 g/km to 159 g/km. These are first-rate values for a seven-seater van with up to 2,610 litres of cargo volume and a permissible gross vehicle weight of 2,510 kilograms. This Volkswagen is driven by a 103-kW / 140-PS TDI engine complete with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The BlueMotion option is available in combination with the Trendline and Comfortline equipment packages. Deliveries of the vehicle are scheduled to commence this summer.
As of now, Volkswagen is offering the Golf Estate in a version with permanent four-wheel drive. This automobile is designed to enable as much as 100 percent of the engine torque to be transmitted to the rear wheels should extreme circumstances require. This gives the Golf Estate TDI 4Motion the best possible grip even in the most adverse conditions. The 4Motion system is coupled with a fuel-efficient, high-torque TDI engine that delivers 77 KW / 105 PS. The Golf Estate TDI 4Motion accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.9 seconds, has a top speed of 185 km/h and consumes just 6.0 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres. An attractive advantage for drivers with towing requirements is that the Golf Estate TDI 4Motion is permitted to tow as much as 1,500 kilograms on gradients of up to twelve per cent – that's 100 kilograms more than its front-wheel-drive counterpart.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Travis @ Mar 4th 2008 4:32AM
So we won't get it here in the states.
The dollar is so weak right now it would probably cost $30,000 here for a base model anyway...but still, I wish we got this car.
Homeboy @ Mar 4th 2008 5:40AM
No. If VW will sell it in the US it will cost you guys $21 000 for the base model. The Euro and Dollar have a 1:1 ratio.
nagmashot @ Mar 4th 2008 5:41AM
you are completely wrong..
21,750Euro in Germany are with 19%VAT... currently all VW cost in Euro price more as in $
Example
GTI Germany 25,000Euro
USA $22,000
this car will cost somewhere between $ 18-20k in the USA
sith33 @ Mar 4th 2008 10:12AM
I just have to laugh at "Homeboy" saying the dollar and the euro are 1:1. If only that were true. And it was, in 1999.
1 euro buys you $1.52 as of today. Ouch.
DKB_SATX @ Mar 4th 2008 10:55AM
sith33: What homeboy was trying to say is that CAR prices these days translate pretty close to 1:1 when converting announced Euro pricing for the European model to dollar pricing for the US model on a model that's sold on both continents.
Chase @ Mar 5th 2008 11:14AM
These $18-21K price conjectures are very uninformed. You guys do realize the Scirocco's base motor in Europe is the 1.4L TSI, right? A Golf Lux with the TSI costs 20k euros. That means the Scirocco is more expensive than a similar Golf. Also, if the Scirocco were to come stateside, it would come with the 2.0T, meaning its price would be comparable, but slightly higher than, a GTI.
This makes complete sense too, because a Scirocco contains parts that are far less amortized than a Golf's.
Kayne001 @ Mar 17th 2008 12:43AM
guys you are misunderstanding homeboy
what i get from what he said, i think he meant that if it's 22k euro it will be 22k dollars in US
it's like playstation 3 on release it was 599 (and 499) in US
and 599(and 499)in Euro. Some companies do that.
It's not a conversion of currency, just some kind of price thing they do.
Fooman @ Mar 4th 2008 4:35AM
I think blows is the right word..
Sorry the first gen Sirroco was sweet, the Corrodo was even sweeter.. this car is boring.
Torrent @ Mar 4th 2008 4:41AM
My thoughts exactly
Talisman @ Mar 4th 2008 5:33AM
I still dont understand why this doesnt look like a coupe like its predecessors. They should have thrown in the automated spoiler for good measure also ;)
Instead of a return to a true VW sports car, you just have another redundant hot hatch. I see no reason for this, the GTI, and the A3 to exist.
sd @ Mar 4th 2008 6:22AM
I want it.. this car looks sweet.. like an even meaner looking A3 3-door
Bazil @ Mar 4th 2008 6:28AM
Guys, you are absolutely wrong. This car is HOT!!!
It's not 1974, it's 2008 and this is a hot sport car of its age. And it's very different from the GTI, more sporty and less bulky.
I am really impressed that nearly all Americans prefer the old model. Maybe it is because you are so used to those big squared old fashioned american vehicles...
tanooki2003 @ Mar 4th 2008 9:10AM
This is what I have been saying for quite some time now and you are right. It's really disappointing that some people just cannot change. This could possibly be why most cars sold to the American market are boring, uninspiring, soft, and very dated on the day the vehicles are released.
Oh well. I guess if GM wanted to bring back the Caprice Classic it would sell by the billions, purchased mostly by Americans if they use the design concept of the early to mid 80's design since they like ugly big and boxy cars. YUCK Count me out.
roar @ Mar 4th 2008 6:46AM
Looks like the Opel/Saturn Astra 3 door, which I think is in it's 4 year of design.
Luiz @ Mar 4th 2008 6:57AM
Looks very good, mainly for a VW.
VW always made the worst squared old fashioned style in the world, even worse than Fiat until 90's. Just a few years they increase it's design, but Mazda, Honda, Opel or Ford used to do it better since the end of 80's
archknight @ Mar 4th 2008 7:43AM
The problem is older people having a nostalgia for what the Scirocco was, this is was not the intent of VW. They are looking to attract a younger generation of buyers who usually don't even give them a thought. For what they offer it's way over priced and they could get something faster, sportier, & more powerful for the sameprice. With competition coming from every manufacturer to produce more powerful sporty models to attract younger buyers VW has to truly step up their game. If they sold it stateside the engines would more than likely be tuned to produce more hp than those on the Euro market and probably priced well below the GTI, as the dedicated sport model of the pack. The GTI/A3 are too grown up for most buyers and neither possesses the slick low profile look most are customers are seeking when shopping for a sports car or sporty vehicle. The GTI/A3 are both to be remodeled next year and as we all know with a remodel comes the price increase, but there will most likely be added features (most likely the same 2.5T from the TT-RS base (250hp) and the current R32 (320hp) to keep them above the Scirocco lineup) to make up for it, but they are still tall, family oriented hatchback/wagons. From what our European friends here have been telling us this car will be priced below the GTI around $19-21K in dollars, which I have been saying would be the case for the base model. I would expect the same 2.0T (200hp) from the GTI stateside and if there is a second version I would expect a 2.5T/Quattro version (270+hp) starting at $26-$28K, for those who want more power. I know many will say but that will defeat the purpose of the Audi TT, you are sadly mistaken. If I am looking for a luxury car (mostly for image and wealth perception), I wouldn't cross shop a lesser brand just because the offers may be a bit similar. I've done this several times, many of us who have driven TT's will tell you it's not like any other VW on the market. With the 2.5T TT-RS (365hp) making it's way to the market I think Audi is already covered.
Bazil @ Mar 4th 2008 8:04AM
Archnight, you are right about the Scirocco, the GTI and the TT. Each of them has a different target group.
And, as Luiz says, Scirocco is very different in design from other VWs, and looks so much more sporty and beautiful, thanks to Da Silva, the new chief designer of the group. Germans are good in engineering, but Italians are better in design. So here we have the best of the two worlds. ;)
Eek @ Mar 4th 2008 9:00AM
I'd rather have an A3 3 door. This is ugly.
PJ @ Mar 4th 2008 9:59AM
I like its styling more every time I see it. But I'm still not seeing the business sense behind *another* premium three-door sport-compact hatch from VAG (this makes, what, five?)
If this were the sixth-gen GTI, I'd be ecstatic. It's certainly a good-looking design, though I'm not seeing any more of an "affordable dream car" (VW's words) than, say, the Volvo C30.
cellularcoffee @ Mar 4th 2008 11:04AM
This 2+2 hatch is not much different from the Volvo C30 2.0 in the states. Aside from the DSG, I don't see much reason why people have to anticipate for this while they can now grab an onsale C30 with a low low price of $24k