Officially Official: Volkswagen Scirocco R
Click above for a high-res gallery of the VW Scirocco R
Okay, so we were wrong about the venue. This weekend, against the backdrop of the Nürburgring 24, Volkswagen will unveil the 265-horsepower Scirocco R to the public. The specs are unchanged from what we reported last night. The Scirocco shares its 265-horsepower/350 Nm (258 lb-ft) 2.0L turbo four with the Audi S3, but unlike the latter, the VW is a front-driver. Drivers pick gears via either a 6-speed stick or DSG, and the VW Scirocco R gets the XDS electronic differential featured in the new GTI. On the tarmac, the Scirocco R makes the run from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.5 seconds with the manual gearbox. (Shave off another tenth with the DSG.) Outside, the bodywork apes that of the Scirocco GT24 racer, five of which will be competing in the 24-hour enduro at the Nordschleife. A meaner face, larger roof spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, 18-inch "Talladega" wheels, and the requisite badging visually separate the Scirocco R from its more sedate-looking siblings. Have a closer look in the hi-res gallery below.
Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco R
[Source: Volkswagen]
PRESS RELEASE:
The new Scirocco R – From the race track to the road
Sports car has international debut at the Nürburgring
Wolfsburg / Nürburg, 20 May 2009 - There could not be a better time or place for a world premiere: parallel to the start of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, Volkswagen is presenting the new Scirocco R for the first time anywhere. A sports car without compromise and a race track that demands everything of the driver will be meeting together this weekend.
Approximately one year after the market launch of the third Scirocco generation, Volkswagen is presenting the most powerful series built Scirocco ever made at the Nürburgring. Its charged four-cylinder 2.0 l TSI is impressive with an output of 195 kW / 265 PS and 350 Newton metres of torque – the dynamic effect is just as striking as the running gear which provides optimal traction characteristics thanks to, amongst other things, the new front axle differential lock XDS.
The design of the Scirocco R is largely based on the Scirocco GT24, which was designed for motor sports: there are large air intake openings in the front bumper which the engineers used to achieve optimal cooling for the engine and the brakes, and an integrated front spoiler as well as the bi-xenon headlights. At the rear end, the roof edge spoiler, which is much larger than on the standard model, a striking shining black diffuser and the chrome tailpipes of the dual exhaust system dominate the design. The side view of the vehicle is characterised by the powerful sill panels as well as the specially-designed 18" alloy wheels "Talladega".
Volkswagen will demonstrate the potential of the new Scirocco R during the 24- hour race with this racing version. With a total of five Sciroccos, driver teams including Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Volkswagen board of management for technical development, the rally world champion Carlos Sainz as well as this year's Dakar winner Giniel de Villiers, will be at the start line.
Note: Comprehensive information on the 24-hour race can be found at www.volkswagen-motorsport.info.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
smythe 11:09AM (5/20/2009)
I really like those rs6 avant type wheels on this car.
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Tony C 1:43PM (5/20/2009)
Is it just me, or is Volkswagen REALLY WRONG about christening the wheels "Talladega" when they're not planning on selling this four-wheeled beastie in North America?
zamafir 11:12AM (5/20/2009)
Wow, everyone who likes to hate on the R32 will have a field day with this one.
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Jsams4131 11:14AM (5/20/2009)
me thinks it should have been an audi with all those styling cues...I looked at this and my mind immediately started looking for R8 characteristics in shape, wheel choice and so forth
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Staggs 1:29PM (5/20/2009)
I completely agree. I thought it was an Audi at first, it doesn't look like a VW at all! Are the designers envious?
Kitko 11:14AM (5/20/2009)
That interior is just horrible.
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lineardrag 11:46AM (5/20/2009)
I object. I think that interior is better than all the other interiors of cars in its class.
chineyz954 12:19PM (5/20/2009)
The interior is awesome I wish the inside of my car looked like that.
Mehdi Cheddadi 12:45PM (5/20/2009)
Can I know what do you drive ?
Tony C 1:48PM (5/20/2009)
Far from horrible, but I'd opine that the interior is too dreary and monochrome and looks more than a little dated with its not-so-successfully-pulled-off retro VW cues.
Rev 3:01PM (5/20/2009)
+1 on the terrible interior ~ reminds me of a Dodge. But hey, at least it doesn't have the cute little plaid seats.
Havanahjoe 2:32PM (5/22/2009)
I love the interior as well! I also wish my car looked like that. Does not look like a Dodge interior at all, those I think are horrible.
Tourian 11:16AM (5/20/2009)
Okay so what does this car have that the GTi doesn't? And why do we need it?
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drunkenpublicness 11:22AM (5/20/2009)
Well apart from being lower, wider and more powerful then a GTI, not much. Being a MKV GTI owner myself, I'd be the 1st inline for a trade-in if this baby ever made it stateside!
zamafir 11:26AM (5/20/2009)
"we" (north america) don't, which is why it will never, ever be sold here.
with the MkVI GTI having the same dynamic suspension and better handling than the Scirocco this refresh of the Scirocco was an obvious step. VW's just keeping it relevant until the R20T comes out. Think of it like all those dull as dishwater 528s with the M body work, just as those customers paid simply for a bit sportier look, so too will Europeans enamored with this cars domination of the races it has entered in.
It helps to consider Europe only cars in a European context when asking why.
Ligor 11:58AM (5/20/2009)
and 6.5 to 62mph seems a tad slow
doesn't the current GTI do that feat in only 6.2sec?
it does look better than the GTI
but i'd buy neither one
montoym 1:20PM (5/20/2009)
@ Ligor:
Never trust VW's acceleration figures, they are always higher than what the magazines and other testers will achieve.
For instance, VW says 0-60 in 6.9s for the DSG GTI(7.2s for the manual) compared to the 6.2s you quoted.
marzbite 6:15PM (5/20/2009)
VW always post slower times, see the MkV R32 specs for example, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds which is far from the real 0-60 5.8secs the car does in the real world, in good conditions a MkV GTI will do 6.5 secs to 60. I seriously doubt this car will go to 60mph in more than 6 seconds giving is lighter than an S3 that does 5.8 to 60mph, VW always posts slower times
HeyHuub 6:26AM (5/21/2009)
@Zamafir
The Scirroco is dynamicly superior to the GTI, don't where you got the idea it wouldn't be. And perhaps you didn't notice the 265hp figure?
Bigbuck17 11:16AM (5/20/2009)
Not really my cup of Juice,sorry.
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