Autoblog

Today on Cars We Can't Have, Oettinger turns its eye toward Volkswagen's C30 Scirocco. There's history between the tuning firm and VW's windy coupe, so this could be viewed as an addendum to past work. What does a tuner do, if not enhance performance? Indeed, Oettinger has fiddled about underhood to wring 240PS from the 2.0-liter engine, and the smaller 1.4-liter TSI mill is good for an even 200PS at the hands of the tuner. Anticipating that more is always better, the future holds a further enhanced 2.0 liter TSI engine frothing out 350PS.

It's not just engine tweaks. The hotted-up Scirocco is low enough to scrape roadkill from the tarmac, thanks to an adjustable suspension. Holding the increased go power from the engine room in check are larger brakes, and it wouldn't be a tuner car without a body kit. Oettinger's bodywork changes are more classy than garish, and overall the look is successful at ratcheting our desire for the Scirocco up another notch.


[Source: World Car Fans]

Volkswagen has made getting behind the wheel of a Scirocco just a little bit easier... in the UK. When the low-slung three-door was launched it was only available in up-level GT trim, but now it's available in base form, starting at £18,790. For what it's worth (not much, sadly), that converts to $32,600 at current rates, but the Scirocco still isn't offered in the States anyway. The new standard engine is VW's 1.4-liter TSI engine rated at 160-horsepower and nearly 43 miles per gallons in the combined EU cycle. The Base trim still includes a six-disc CD changer, air conditioning and exclusive 17-inch alloys.

A second engine is now offered in both Base and GT trims, and it's a diesel. Displacing 2.0-liters and offering 140-horsepower, the common rail oil-burner gets over 55 European miles per gallon, with a choice of either a six-speed manual or DSG gearbox.


[Source: Volkswagen]

Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Golf VI

Following the internet's unofficial, unscheduled and probably unwanted (at least by Volkswagen) reveal of the sixth-generation Golf this week, VW has thrown its cards on the table and revealed its hand. Along with high-res images, VW has revealed that the new Golf will launch this October in Europe and then find its way to markets in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America. Unfortunately, the company did not specify the U.S. (could just be Canada, for instance), but we're going on VW of North America's word that it will eventually go on sale in the States. Europeans, however, get first dibs and the base price will be 16,500 Euros at launch.

The car's new design carries forward trademark Golf cues but adds a bit of crispness. VW says it's more "three-dimensional" than the current car, which is strange since they're both technically objects in space. Regardless, VW does fess up to the Scirocco's influence, particularly the broad shoulder section on which the roof sits. The interior also was inspired and borrows bits and pieces from the more expensive Passat CC.

Power for the new Golf, in Europe at least, will be provided four gas engines and two diesels. All of the gassers will be TSI, i.e. they incorporate both a supercharger and turbo. The diesels meanwhile get common rail injection across the board with two balancer shafts to quell vibrations. Finally, DSG is essentially replacing the automatic in all Golfs except base models. Either a 6- or 7-speed DSG will be used depending on which engine it's paired to. Electronic doo-dads include "automatic distance control" (ACC), "adaptive chassis control" (DCC), a "park steering assistant" and updated ESP system.

Check out VW's official press release after the jump for more details and peruse the new high-res images in the gallery below.

[Source: VW]

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]

Click above for new high-res gallery of the 2009 VW Scirocco

We've got pricing on Volkswagen's new 2009 Scirocco. On sale in mid-November, the base price is £20,500 (about $40,220 USD, though don't trust currency conversions to give you a sense of something's value) for the bottom-rung 122-hp 1.4-liter TSI)model. Interestingly enough, that entry-level model won't be the first out of the gate. VW will initially introduce the four-seat hatch with two gasoline engines. The first is rated at 160 hp, while the second has a quoted output of 200 hp. These powerplants will be followed by the base 122-hp model, and a 140-hp turbo-diesel version. Unfortunately, there are still no indications that the legendary Scirocco will make it to our shores, unless you count the fact that some of these new Scirocco pics were shot near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. (Don't mind the editor who doesn't know the Portugal Suspension Bridge from the Golden Gate Bridge behind the curtain.)

[Source: VW via egmCarTech]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Routan

The new Volkswagen Routan minivan hasn't even gone on sale yet and there is already an incentive on its hood. This one, however, is not your typical cash back deal. Instead, Volkswagen is working under the assumption that the people likely to actually purchase a Routan are those with kids to haul. As such, VW of America is teaming up with Upromise to provide buyers with $1,500 towards a higher education savings plan. Upromise is a company that works with retailers to provide cash back bonuses when one of their registered credit card is used for purchases. Those rebates can then be transferred to a 529 education savings plan. To be eligible for the college bonus, you have to pre-order the Chrysler-built Routan by the end of August and take delivery by the end of November.


[Source: Volkswagen]

Click image for high-res version

Volkswagen is pumping up the badass for the racing version of its new Scirocco sport-hatch. As we reported a couple of weeks ago, VW will be campaigning a race-prepped version of its latest release at the Nurburgring 24 hour race in the 2-liter turbo category in which a GTI took victory last year. The Scirocco racer will use the same 300-hp TFSI mated to Volkswagen's paddle-shifted DSG, a set-up which, in preliminary testing, Hans-Joachim Stuck called "one of the most uncomplicated racing cars" he's ever piloted. (We'll take that as a good thing.) Stuck, a two-time Le Mans champion, will be among the drivers campaigning the pack of three Sciroccos at the race, alongside double world rally champ Carlos Sainz, VW board member Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, three of the four driver's from last year's winning GTI team and a couple of automotive journalists (once again, nobody asked us).

[Source: Volkswagen]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Scirocco.

Volkswagen will use the 24-hour endurance race at the Nurburgring in Germany to showcase the new Scirocco's sporting credentials when the event gets underway the weekend of May 24 and 25. The race-prepped version of the low-slung, Golf-based coupe will be spitting out 300 hp from its tuned 2.0-liter TFSI engine. Volkswagen didn't reveal a lot of details about the Scirocco racer in its press release (after the jump), but you can be assured that serious suspension and brake tweaks will be accompanied by all the prerequisite safety equipment to make the Scirocco competitive in the 2.0-liter turbo class. And VW isn't skimping on drivers, either. The Scirocco will be piloted by two-time WRC champ Carlos Sainz and two-time Le Mans winner and 'Ring legend, Hans-Joachim Stuck.


[Source: VW via WCF]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Golf GTI Pirelli

The Golf GTI Pirelli is back (but only in the UK right now). Celebrating its arrival after a 25-year absence, the Pirelli-themed Volkswagen hatchback features an enhanced version of the 2.0-liter T-FSI powerplant boosted to 230 PS (about 227 hp). Power is sent to the front wheels through a traditional 6-speed manual, or VW's very nice twin-clutch DSG gearbox. The added 30 horses over the stock VW GTI drops the sprint time to 60 down to just 6.8 seconds and raises the hatchback's maximum speed to 152 mph.

Differentiating itself from the standard GTI, the Pirelli version features a front splitter, side skirts, smoked rear lenses and tinted windows. Of course, it also gets 18-inch 5-spoke aluminum wheels wrapped in, you guessed it, Pirelli P-Zero tires. The Pirelli theme is carried to the interior with custom yellow-stitched sport seats and tire-tread imprints in all four seating positions. With a few added mechanical upgrades, several exterior enhancements, and a lot of interior branding, the GTI Pirelli package appears to be a slick package. That is, assuming you don't tire of it. (Oh, come on, we just had to say that.)

After checking our archives, we noticed that Volkswagen actually previewed the GTI Pirelli at the Wörthersee show last year, and we're happy to report that the spokes on each wheel are still exaggerated versions of the letter 'P'.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 VW Scirocco

Volkswagen has made it categorically clear that the only reason it will not sell the recently unveiled Scirocco in the United States is because of the weak dollar. Bloomberg quotes VW's sales and marketing chief Detlef Wittig as saying, "The exchange rate is the only reason for not selling it in the U.S." Wittig goes on to say that the Scirocco would fit the U.S. market, which is arguable considering that VW already sells the Rabbit hatchback here in multiple forms, including GTI and R32 variants for the performance-minded enthusiast. But because of the weak buck, the point is moot since VW would make no money importing the Scirocco from the factory in Palmela, Portugal where it will be built alongside the Eos convertible.

Is all hope lost for those in the U.S. hoping to relive thier youths in a reborn Scirocco? Not quite, as the dollar will likely make a comeback against the euro at some point. Since no one is saying that it's likely to happen in the near future, VW also announced that it has begun scouting locations for a U.S. plant where it can build some of its cars free of the profit-sapping exchange rates. Perhaps then when we're building our own VWs in Alabama, Germany's largest automaker will decide to start selling the Scirocco in the U.S. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: Bloomberg]