Volkswagen calls it a sports coupé. To my eyes, it’s more of a hatchback. You could even say it’s a shooting brake. None of that really matters. What the revised Scirocco R is, is simply brilliant.
It’s mostly down to the way it handles. For the first two days I was convinced the Haldex all-wheel drive system was working its magic in all four corners. It isn’t, of course, but the front-wheel powered Scirocco grips so well that you’d be forgiven for thinking the same.
Indeed, the front-wheel-drive chassis is an unchanged carry over — and there’s very little reason to change it. That PQ35 platform might have been around for a while now (since the sixth-generation Golf in fact...) but it is showing no signs of age. The new MQB architecture is lighter and stronger, but having driven our long-term Golf R on the way to pick up the new ’Rocco, and then driving that back to wheels HQ, it felt every bit as good as the Golf… dare I say, better. It’ll adopt the new platform when it’s (eventually) given a total redesign, but until then, you won’t be complaining much about this car.
You’ll find the familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot under the bonnet packing 255bhp — which is peppy, to say the least. Buy one of these in Europe and you get 276bhp. Hot weather sucks. These locally delivered ’Roccos don’t get the extra punch as the turbos aren’t suited to hotter climes says VW. Not that this matters, especially not when its peak torque of 330Nm now hits lower at 2,400rpm and lasts longer (up to 5,200rpm) than the outgoing model’s 2,500rpm-5,000rpm.
The motor revs freely, sounds raspy and delivers a meaty punch. And it’s mated to the quick-thinking and sharp-shifting six-speed dual-clutch DSG, which helps it to sprint from rest to 100kph in just 6.0 seconds. The snappy gearbox is a treat and when in Sport mode, it blips furiously through the gears while the exhaust cackles and pops on the overrun. It’s addictive stuff and you find you drive everywhere with your teeth clenched. It’s ever so good at getting the grunt to the ground and with that wider rear track and suspension lowered by 15mm, it keeps you glued there too. This is an easy car to drive fast; the cornering grip available is vast and the planted nature of its chassis gives you the confidence to push it harder.
It’s also just asking to be thrashed, you can see that in its revised eyes. Those new dynamically contoured bi-xenon headlights give the front fascia a more aggressive look while out back, it features new LED taillights. The VW logo that doubles up as a tailgate handle is a nice touch and our tester rode on chunky 19in wheels. What was originally penned by former Wolfsburg chief designer Murat Günak has been tweaked a bit to try to resemble the rest of the clan but the silhouette remains the same.
The matte chrome side sill extensions with ‘R’ styling and brake callipers painted black with ‘R’ logos add a bit of drama, but that’s just part of the spectacle; the interior is striking and features all-new materials, sport seats and a flat-bottom multifunctional steering.
The auxiliary instrument panel with charge pressure, chronometer and engine oil temperature pays tribute to the original Scirocco and is a nice reminder that this is a wild ride, lest you forget.
No, it isn’t the most practical, and rear visibility is almost non-existent (the rear seat headrests are massive) but, again, none of that matters. Strap yourself in and get ready for a seriously good drive.
This story first appeared on wheels in March 2015
