Forbidden Fruit: 265-horsepower Volkswagen Scirocco R unveiled

Don't get too excited if you're Stateside -- this puppy's a Europe-only treat. iMotor is first on the web with photos of the new Volkswagen Scirocco R. The UK publication had the slick blue hot hatch for an exclusive photo shoot, the embargo for which apparently lifted as the clock struck midnight GMT this evening. So, what do our friends across the pond get? Well, the Scirocco R features the Audi S3's 265-horsepower variant of the near-ubiquitous 2.0 TFSI engine, which sends power to the front wheels via either a 6-speed manual or DSG. In a bid to keep some semblance of control over all that front-drive juice, the Scirocco R gets the new XDS differential we'll be seeing in the redesigned 2010 GTI. Naturally, there are more aggressive fascias decorated with "R" badges fore and aft. The Scirocco R also benefits from a lowered suspension and upgraded brakes over the standard car. iMotor says that the VW Scirocco R will hit showrooms sometime this September priced from £26,000. VW hasn't made its official announcement as of yet, but we expect that info and additional photos to hit the wires by tomorrow morning. If we had to guess, the Scirocco R will be Veedub's headliner at the Wörthersee, along with Audi's Q5 Custom Concept. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Official info, photos from VW here.

[Source and Photo: iMotor]