Most successful Volkswagen coupé of all time given the 'R'egal touch

Dubai, 02 March 2010 - Not content with resting on its laurels after 36 years as the most successful Volkswagen coupé of all time, the legendary two-door Scirocco has once again rocketed into the limelight with a new 'R-line' version now available in the region.

Launched in the Middle East in 2009 as an affordable sports car on wheels fit for use every day of the year, the generation III Scirocco and the customers who have made the car a success, have been rewarded with a regal re-vamp by the customising specialists at Volkswagen Exclusive.

"The cult status of the Scirocco is well deserved, and is without doubt the sportiest car ever produced by Volkswagen," said Stefan Mecha, Managing Director of Volkswagen Middle East - the regional office of Europe's largest car manufacturer. "It is because of this we decided to reward the Scirocco's accomplishments and our customers with the special Volkswagen Exclusive treatment.

"The R-Line version of our star coupé is for those who want highly dynamic styling on the car body and interior in the spirit of the power-enhanced R models, yet prefer an engine with less power."

In configuring their new car, buyers can choose between an interior and an exterior package. The two R-Line packages may also be ordered together.

Exterior package: Its body appearance has been customised with 17-inch alloy wheels in a new design ("Mallory" type, 18-inch optional), sport chassis, body coloured side skirts and bumpers that have been modified compared to the normal Golf.

The exterior is completed by decorative door tread plates with R-Line logo, a roof edge spoiler ("GTI"), high-gloss black ventilation grille (radiator and lower air intake) as well as a diffuser also in glossy black. The lens covers of the taillights are also smoked. On its sides, the Scirocco is identified by R-Line logos (front fender at height of A-pillar).

The interior package of the R-Line program impresses with a leather multifunction steering wheel (three spokes, R-Line logo in lower spoke, multifunction keys in the two cross spokes), stainless steel pedal caps and foot support, R-Line door tread plates, sport seats ("R-Look" fabric design) with R-Line logo integrated in the head restraints and a R-Line specific interior decor.

All seams are in "Art Grey", a light tone of grey. A full leather interior ("Vienna") will be available as an option. 

Scirocco unites passion and logic

The Scirocco offers pure driving pleasure, a powerful design, high-end technologies such as DCC adaptive chassis control and the new 7-speed DSG dual clutch transmission. In addition, the Scirocco provides exclusive use of efficient turbo engines with up to 147 kW / 200 hp, space for four adults despite its sporty image, an extremely high level of safety and the everyday utility that is typical of all Volkswagen vehicles. This mix of passion and logic costs far less than expected based on the car's key data.

Although the third generation of the Scirocco follows exactly the same positioning as the first one, Volkswagen intentionally did not include the retro elements that were prominent in the original version. Conceptually the Scirocco is a counterpart to the original version; this is because in the mid-1970s the successor to the Karmann Ghia also set out on new paths, both technically and visually.

Front end design of a new era

The third generation Scirocco is the first Volkswagen to sport the front end design of a new era. The main characteristic includes the chrome lamp bodies and high-sheen black interior surfaces of the headlamp housings that are joined by the radiator grille cross bar painted in high-sheen black.

The Volkswagen design team created a wagon-coupé based on flawless sports car fundamentals.  This resulted in a side profile that had the potential to permeate a status that goes beyond class distinctions. Thanks to its long sweeping roofline and near-vertical rear window, it also frees up space for variability and up to 755 litres of cargo capacity.

With its short overhangs, the Scirocco efficiently utilises its 2,578 millimetre wheelbase to offer ample space. The Volkswagen is 1,404 millimetres tall, 4,256 millimetres long and its width measures 1,810 millimetres.

Two engines in the region

One challenge in creating an affordable sports car is to have both an extremely agile but also economical engine.  The TSI gasoline direct injection engines do exactly this; maximum power with minimal consumption has made the Volkswagen TSI four cylinders synonymous with a generation of the most fuel-efficient and at the same time sporty Volkswagen engines.

In the Middle East, Volkswagen offers the Scirocco with two TSI engines (118 kW / 160 hp and 147 kW / 200 hp).

The 1.4 TSI engine, with its 118 kW, reaches the 100 km/h mark from a stop after just 8.0 seconds; its top speed is 218 km/h. Like all TSIs, this engine is also exceptionally economical (average consumption: 6.5 litres super unleaded per 100 kilometres) and torque strong (maximum of 240 Newton-metre at just 1,750 rpm).

At the highest performance level, a powerful 147kw/200hp (5,100 to 6,000 rpm) TSI is used in the Scirocco. On the 2.0 litre TSI engine, with its considerable 280 Newton-metre of torque and 4 cylinders, fuel consumption is just 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres. It delivers a top speed of 235 km/h and handles the sprint to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. 

Two crisply shifting dual clutch transmissions

Standard equipment on the Scirocco is the smoothly and precisely shifting 6-speed transmission. The DSG dual clutch transmission is offered on Scirocco engines in the Middle East. A 6-speed DSG is used with the powerful 200 hp TSI. The 160 hp TSI distributes its power over an even broader range of gears with the 7-speed DSG.

Optional sport chassis with three level settings

Ideally tailored to the Scirocco is the DCC adaptive chassis control system. Not only is the damper characteristic controlled here, but also tuning of the electro-mechanical power steering. Adaptive chassis control offers the three programmes "Normal", "Sport" and "Comfort". Significant here is the fact that adaptive chassis control improves the driving characteristics of the Scirocco full-time. That is, the suspension is continually adapted to the roadway and driving situation. The system also reacts to accelerator, brake and steering inputs. It is able to resolve the conflict in goals between a tight sport suspension and a comfortable one.

Standard features

The Scirocco is one of the most attractive sports cars in terms of price but yet its standard features place it on the same level as the far more expensive coupés. Always on board are 17-inch alloy wheels, height-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, leather steering wheel, parking brake handle and shifting lever grip, sport seats, split folding rear seatbacks, power windows, air conditioning, ESP, braking assistant, six airbags, power steering and of course a sport chassis. On the top 200 hp model, standard equipment also includes chrome tailpipes, a "Titanium black" roof liner and a sound generator.

Panorama vent sunroof

Supplying vast amounts of light to the interior is an optional large panorama vent sunroof that extends from the A-pillars to the B-pillars. At the press of the button the transparent roof opens up to 39 millimetres. When the sun is intense, a sunshade can slide over the sunroof for protection; however that is not likely to be necessary as the glass of the panorama vent sunroof only transmits 8.2 percent of the UV radiation, 2.8 percent of the infrared radiation (heat) and 6.9 percent of the visible light.

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:
Mona El-Mahdi
Public Relations Manager
Volkswagen Middle East
Tel: +971-4-204 5888
Fax: +971-4-204 5898
E-mail: mona.elmahdi@volkswagen.avme.ae

Nick Langmead
Consultant
Impact Porter Novelli
Tel: +971-4-330 4030 Ext:  413
Fax: +971-4-330 4031
E-mail: n.langmead@ipn.ae

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© Press Release 2010