Volkswagen Scirocco R32? Teaser image surfaces
With the Volkswagen Scirocco now out in the public domain, Volkswagen appears to be on a campaign to keep our attention piquied with this teaser shot that has been floating around cyberspace. The image shows a darkened glimpse at the front end of a potentially beefier Scirocco, with the R in the reflection colored the bold blue that has become the trademark color of Volkswagen's performance badge.
If the R-type Scirocco got the same 247-hp 3.2-liter VR6 and 4Motion all-wheel-dive from its Golf/Rabbit R32 stable-mate, and some of the styling cues from the Scirocco GT24, we could have quite the stormer on our hands.
[Source: Autoblog.nl]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John Johnson 8:59AM (6/30/2008)
It'd likely be the .:R36 if it did become an .:R model. The only reason the current MkV R32 isn't an R36 is because they didn't leave enough room in the engine bay for the 3.6L. Rather unfortunate. But I'm sure they will have learned from their mistake.
Reply
zamafir 9:14AM (6/30/2008)
I'm not so sure. The scirocco is lighter, cheaper, and handles better then the GTI. The new S4 will be lighter then the outgoing model. VAG, and most of their brands, Lamborghini, Audi, et-al, are beginning to release a raft of lighter vehicles. I wouldn't be surprised if the Scirocco didn't feature the 3.6L or even a V6 as every single solitary bit of press release thus far would point to some sort of 2.0T ala the S3, given the 'ring iteration of the car and everything else we've been reading. 250hp 2.0T, much lighter, 4 motion, R8/599 suspension? count me in.
YourNameHere 9:12AM (6/30/2008)
i would be more interested to see then 260hp 2.0T from the TT-S. the R32 is a pig.
Reply
John Johnson 9:17AM (6/30/2008)
Maybe they'll smart up from the MkIV R32 and offer FI on the VR6 :). And I'd hardly call the R32 a pig, on a track it'll outrun a GTI with chip/suspension.
YourNameHere 9:22AM (6/30/2008)
i have a MK5 GTI (stock) and i have driven an R32 and while it is a little quicker its not worth the extra cash to me. and the "on a track" argument doenst mean anything to me because at most that means one weekend a month. I autocross almost every-other weekend and in that setting the nose heavy R32 does not do to well. i beat the one that comes out by 1-1.5sec every race and im on worn out grand-touring tires.
Noe 9:24AM (6/30/2008)
^^^but the same can be said with the GTI too, a chip and a good suspension kit can do wonders!
John Johnson 9:26AM (6/30/2008)
Well the money argument is valid, I own a MkV as well and have driven both. For $33k, there is no way I'd look at an R32. However, markdowns on the R's that dealers can't get rid of are pretty extreme, one can be had for $27k. That makes it a bit more tempting....
I live in a mountain-y area, I often drive on backroads and I could sure make use of the AWD, probably more than most. But it still wouldn't be worth $33k to me, I agree with you pretty strongly on that point :p.
YourNameHere 9:30AM (6/30/2008)
i have a base 2dr GTI. no options. was 22k out the door. with $5,000 im sure i could make an R32 killer with out much trouble. at the moment im more then happy.
BLS 9:14AM (6/30/2008)
I hope the R32/R36 variant looks like the concept instead of the bland production coupe.
Reply
yacoub 9:20AM (6/30/2008)
DO NOT CARE because it won't be coming here. Nothing good ever does anymore, especially from the VAG.
Reply
John Johnson 9:23AM (6/30/2008)
I agree, and the worst part is it's because they "won't make enough profit". So? Mark it up $500. Who cares? I'd go trade in my '08 Rabbit for one. Even if I did have to pay $500 more than a GTI would cost.
archknight 9:37AM (6/30/2008)
I second that, since the US won't get a version of either, why should we care? The GTI, as I have often stated, is no more than a small tall wagon which doesn't inspire sport IMO. The low profile wide stance of this new Scirocco would be a perfect candidate for a 2.5T pushing 300+hp and AWD, but since VWoA won't even try to give us a base model, I really don't care.
YourNameHere 9:46AM (6/30/2008)
i think they should drop the current GTI and bring this over and badge it as the GTI.
zamafir 9:46AM (6/30/2008)
I'm with you John, just pull an R32. Bring 5,000 over, fully loaded, only one option, put in a 250hp 2.0T and 4motion, keep that amazing suspension, sold.
dieselman 9:41AM (6/30/2008)
Sorry, but you have got it all wrong.
"R" is more like in "R-Line" and does not have anything to do with R32 or later versions.
Look at it as an R32 without the engine.
I have a Golf V GT Sport, with all the R-line packages, it looks like and R32 but I have the 170HP diesel...so, I have the sport suspensions, seats, steering wheel, etc...but I can get 40-45mpg on the highway if I want and have more torque than the R32.
Reply
John Johnson 9:45AM (6/30/2008)
Thanks for depressing me even more about stuff we don't get :p.
BluePariah 10:46AM (6/30/2008)
While we can all enjoy speculating wildly here, I'm almost positive this teaser "ad" is a fake.
- I'm pretty sure that's not the VW corporate font, and its using Apple's trademark (and annoying) water reflection filter.
- There's no VW logo or tag line here (Do they use Das Auto in Europe too?). Any marketing person worth half thier salt wouldn't release this without some branding.
- VW tends to be fairly original in its ads, and since everyone and their freaking mother is doing these lame blacked out mystery shots, I don't think they'd just follow suit.
My vote: wishful thinking...
But I'd still buy one. Just don't tell my GTI...
Reply
BluePariah 11:13AM (6/30/2008)
I did some looking around and now I'm sure of it... this is nothing more than a poorly p-chopped version of this shot right here:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/volkswagen-scirocco-gt24/819711/
why not the LS2LS7? 11:27AM (6/30/2008)
You beat me to it.
"The Evil Twin" does seem like a VW tagline to me. And I can't recall VW doing much teasing in the past.
I'm guessing internet fakeroo also.
BluePariah 11:51AM (6/30/2008)
Good point on the tagline, LS.
VW (and any German company for that matter) is going to stay as far away from the word "evil" as they possibly can... simple marketing, folks...
Why risk the all too easy (albeit tired) WW2 comparisons when you can just trot out Heidi Klum...