| VW Scirocco - Back For Good? | | | | attention. |
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| Most people know that the word Scirocco | | | | The Scirocco went on sale in March 2008 and |
| derives from the Mediterranean wind that | | | | has already divided opinion but it is too |
| comes from the Sahara desert you did know | | | | early to say whether the lovers of the old |
| that didn't you? Did you also know that the | | | | Scirocco will embrace the new model. |
| last Scirocco's finally rolled off the | | | | |
| production line as far back as 1989? | | | | The Scirocco GT is a three door sports coupe |
| | | | with a 2 litre turbocharged petrol engine |
| Well after a nineteen year or so absence the | | | | developing 200 PS. Acceleration from 0-62 is |
| Scirocco is back some say by popular demand | | | | 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 146mph for |
| others say that car manufacturers' attempts | | | | the manual version although the automatic is |
| at recycling has started with just the names! | | | | only a second slower. A six-speed auto or |
| Whatever your view on the matter I think the | | | | manual gearbox is available. |
| consensus of opinion is that the return of | | | | |
| this sporty hatchback is all together a | | | | The Scirocco comes with ACC (Adaptive Chassis |
| welcome one. | | | | Control) this allows the driver to adjust the |
| | | | suspension settings to suit conditions and |
| The origins of the Scirocco go back to the | | | | ESP (Electronic Stability Programme). Safety |
| early seventies when VW realised they would | | | | features include all-round disc brakes with |
| have to replace the beautiful but rather | | | | ABS and a multi-point airbag system including |
| ageing Karmann Ghia. For this they enlisted | | | | driver and passenger plus front seats and |
| the help of the Italian styling guru | | | | also curtain airbags. |
| Giorgetto Giugiaro and so the Scirocco or | | | | |
| Type 53 as it was affectionately referred to | | | | Options include cruise control and hill hold |
| internally was born. | | | | control. The Scirocco comes with 18" Alloys |
| | | | as standard but 19" are an available extra |
| First appearing in 1974 the Scirocco was a | | | | should you want to really look the business. |
| three door sports hatch and was fairly | | | | 2009 should see the arrival of a less potent |
| popular selling around 500,000 units by 1981. | | | | 1.4 petrol version together with a diesel. |
| A few subtle changes were made during the | | | | |
| first years of production but it was not | | | | Early reviews of the GT have proclaimed that |
| until the second generation model arrived in | | | | the handling of the car is exceptional |
| 1982 that the car improved significantly with | | | | especially at higher speeds with low wind |
| engine power output and torque up rated and a | | | | noise and precise cornering. The interior has |
| revised interior. The unique at the time | | | | a high quality feel as you would expect from |
| spoiler mounted to the rear window became | | | | VW. Fuel economy is better than expected |
| synonymous with the Scirocco appearance. | | | | unless you drive the car really hard. |
| | | | |
| Production continued until around 1989 by | | | | Apparently the Vice-President of VW USA |
| which time a further 290,000 were produced | | | | announced that he did not want the Scirocco |
| whilst sales continued to around 1992 until | | | | to go on sale in America as it would clash |
| the Scirocco had been replaced by the | | | | with sales of the Golf GTI a claim that was |
| Corrado. Many Scirocco enthusiasts remain | | | | later disputed by the CEO of VW who said the |
| however and there is a thriving owner's | | | | final decision rested with him! |
| network especially in the UK. | | | | |
| | | | Overall residual value should be maintained |
| After much press speculation in 2006 VW | | | | due to the interest in the Scirocco so it |
| unveiled the concept version of the Scirocco | | | | just remains to be seen if the new Scirocco |
| known as the Iroc at the 2006 Paris Motor | | | | is as popular as its predecessor but I have a |
| Show and it attracted a huge amount of | | | | more than sneaky feeling that it will. |