Scirocco is the sports car for every day of the year

Dubai, 4 March 2008:  It is back: 34 years after the world premiere of the first Scirocco at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen is now presenting the Scirocco of the new era at the same venue. The coupé embodies the fascinating strategy of putting a sports car on wheels that is fit for use every day of the year at an affordable price.

Different than the original Scirocco of the 1970s, and the second generation introduced in the 1980s, the new car offers substantially greater interior space; it does not have a sloping hatchback but a wagon back with matching long roof and steep tailgate which exhibits very crisp proportions. The Scirocco also features high class technologies, dynamic driving characteristics, and a high level of comfort with an uncompromisingly sporty design.

Volkswagen Chief Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn commented: "In the Scirocco, we will be bringing the kind of sports car into the showroom that people dream of. Yet it is a dream that an exceptionally large number of car drivers will be able to afford - despite all of the high-end technologies we have implemented."

Design and Dimensions

A calling card of the ambitious global concept is the new sports car's avant-garde design.  This includes the long wagon/coupé roof, the car's athletic side profile, its distinctive engine hood and the entire rear end with its extremely broad shoulder sections.  The front end of the Scirocco displays a completely new Volkswagen design language. The radiator grille and bumper are characterised by a dynamic that is timeless and impressive.  The overall design of the rear end - broader, with heftier bumpers plus a wide wheel track, the roof line and roof spoiler, plus wide wrap-around rear window - all lend an exceptionally powerful image to this car.

With a length of 4.26 metres, the Scirocco is on par with the Golf. However, it is built significantly lower to the ground (1.40 meter) and is nearly as wide as the Passat (1.81 metre). Four adults can be seated comfortably with plenty of space inside. Once they are all aboard, the Scirocco provides 292 litres of cargo capacity; when the two seatbacks of the rear individual sport seats are folded down, capacity increases to a considerable 755 litres. This contemporary Scirocco demonstrates unfettered everyday utility, and it can be recommended without reservation as a sports car for every day of the year.

Interior

Similar to the new Passat CC, ideally-contoured ergonomic individual seats are used in the back of the Scirocco. Providing for a high level of safety are the headrests that are permanently mounted to the seatbacks in the rear.

The Scirocco is a full-fledged four seater.  The front sport seats include an Easy Entry feature for easier entry and exit of the rear passengers. Specifically, when the seatback of a front seat is unlatched, the seat moves forward; afterwards, it automatically returns to its preset position. Also standard: height adjustment of the front sport seats.

The driver and front passenger in the Scirocco experience a sporty and well-developed ergo­nomic environment. Pleasing to the touch and appealing to the eye is the complex designs of the interior door trim. Instruments and gages have also been laid out intuitively and clearly. In particular, the center console with its controls arranged at a high level exhibits a refreshingly clear layout. Arranged directly beneath the two centre air vents is the selected audio system. The latest equipment generation is being implemented on the Scirocco (RCD 210 to RCD 510). Always there: a MP3-capable CD player and changer. In parallel, there will be two audio-navigation ­systems. The top model, designated the RNS 510, delivers refined features such as a 6.5-inch touchscreen and an extremely fast 30 gigabyte hard drive. The Scirocco also features a special instrument cluster with white illumination.

Another characteristic of the Scirocco is the large panorama vent sunroof - extending from the A pillars to the B pillars providing plenty of light in the interior.  At the press of a button the transparent panorama roof is raised up to 39 millimetres. 

Engines and Transmissions

Volkswagen will be offering the Scirocco as the world's first sports car whose engines are all charged. Providing for ample power on the Scirocco - which comes with ESP and sport chassis as standard equipment - are three TSIs gasoline direct-injection engines - output 90 kW / 122 PS, 118 kW / 160 PS and 147 kW / 200 PS. The TDI, a highly advanced common rail engine, develops 103 kW / 140 PS.  All of the Sciroccos are shifted by a six-speed gearbox.

TSI with 122 PS - Maximum power with minimal consumption - within a very short period of time this property has made the TSI four cylinders synonymous with a new generation of the most fuel-efficient and at the same time sporty Volkswagen engines. Representing the entry level into the world of these multiple award winning engines is a 90 kW / 122 PS strong TSI (at 5,000 rpm). In the Scirocco, the four cylinder engine develops its maximum torque of 200 Newton-metre at a low 1,500 rpm - i.e. just above idling speed. The TSI takes the car to a top speed of 200 km/h. The122 PS Scirocco handles the classic 0-100-km/h sprint in 9.7 seconds. Its average fuel consumption of 6.1 litres Super Unleaded per 100 kilometres makes it one of the most economical sports cars of its class.

TSI with 160 PS - This is the latest TSI: a four cylinder, turbo- and supercharged, with 118 kW / 160 PS (at 5,900 rpm). Like all of the TSIs, this engine is exceptionally economical (average fuel consumption: 6.5 l/100 km) and torque-strong (maximum of 240 Newton-metre at just 1,750 rpm) too. This TSI takes the Scirocco from rest to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds; its top speed is 217 km/h. As an option, the 160 PS TSI may be paired with the first 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG) in the world that is transverse mounted.

TSI with 200 PS - At the highest power level, the Scirocco comes with a powerful 147 kW / 200 PS (at 6,000 rpm) TSI. It too has a turbocharger, and it also shines with very good torque and fuel economy. Per 100 kilometres this 280 New­ton-metre (from 1,700 rpm) strong four cylinder consumes just 7.6 litres of fuel. Yet it can still deliver a top speed of 235 km/h. The highest performing Scirocco of all times completes the sprint to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds.

TDI with 140 PS - The Scirocco will also be available with a clean and torque-strong 140 PS TDI (103 kW at 4,200 rpm).

Technology

Perfectly tailored to a sports car like the new Scirocco is the newly developed "adaptive chassis control". It exercises direct control, not only over the suspension characteristic, but also over tuning of the electro-mechanical power steering.

"Adaptive chassis control" offers three programs: "Normal", "Sport" and "Comfort". "Sport" and "Comfort" are each selected by a button in front of the gearshift lever.

"Adaptive chassis control" improves the driving properties of the Scirocco as the suspension is continually being adapted to the roadway and driving situation. The system also reacts to acceleration, braking and steering inputs. This resolves the conflict in goals between a stiff sporty suspension and a comfortable one. That is precisely what makes for considerably better ride comfort - which is also quite noticeable in the "Normal" mode.

The "Sport" program can be recommended as a type of "Nuremburg Ring- North Loop" race track mode. In this case, the suspension is significantly stiffer. In parallel, the power-assist for steering is reduced for more direct steering response. The opposite is done in "Comfort" mode. In this case, ride comfort is especially improved on poor roadways and while driving slowly.

The new Scirocco is one of the most attractive sports cars in the world when it comes to pricing. Nonetheless, the standard equipment package is superb. Always there, for example, are 17-inch alloy wheels, height adjustable driver and front passenger seats and steering wheel, leather parking brake grip, sport seats, split folding rear seats, power windows, air conditioning, ESP, braking assistant, six airbags, speed-dependent power steering, and of course a sport chassis.

-Ends-

For more information 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

Amanda Reed
Consultant
Impact Porter Novelli
Tel: +971-4-330 4030 Ext:  417
Fax: +971-4-330 4031
E-mail: a.reed@ipn.ae

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© Press Release 2008