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01/02/2012, 19:05
By DEREK OGDEN
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Scirocco is an Italian word referring to a Mediterranean wind that blows from the Sahara and reaches hurricane speeds in North Africa and southern Europe. So, how does the new eponymous Volkswagen Golf-based sleek sports coupe live up to the name? The answer? Like a breeze.
The top-of the-range Scirocco R slipped into the country quietly at the end of last year to keep a promise Volkswagen Group Australia had made to its dealers that they would have cars in their showrooms for Christmas to replace the three-door Golf R which was being retired.
The front-wheel drive Scirocco R has a manufacturer’s list price – add on-road and dealer costs - of $47,490, close to the outgoing Golf R’s $48,490 sticker, while the five-door Golf R is still around from $49,990. There’s daylight to the Golf three-door GTI at $38,990.
Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Scirocco R produces 188 kW at 6000 rpm and 330 Nm from 2500 to 5000 rpm mated with either a six-speed manual or dual clutch DSG automatic transmission.
The four-seater coupe sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds (manual), 6 seconds (DSG auto), making it slightly slower than the Golf R – 5.9 seconds (manual) and 5.7 seconds (DSG auto). Top speed is a regulated 250 km/h at 6320 rpm. On the 98 RON petrol recommended, fuel consumption on the combined urban/highway cycle is put at 8.1 litres per 100 km for the six-speed manual and 6 litres/km the six-speed DSG auto, while blowing out 198g/km and 192g/km of carbon dioxide respectively.
Brakes are matched to meet the Scirocco R’s top-level performance. The 17-inch system has ventilated discs all round and sports distinctive painted black callipers. Apart from having no all-wheel drive capacity, the Scirocco R and its Golf twin share the same platform and engine, the newbie gaining the GTI’s electronic differential to maintain optimal traction no matter what. VW’s variable suspension dampers, which can be switched between ‘comfort’, ‘normal’ and ‘sport’, are standard in the ‘R’.
In a launch drive through the Victorian Alps in weather ranging from bright sunshine to torrential rain – 50 mm in a day at Mt Hotham – with thick mist clinging to the slopes making conditions on the steep, twisting roads treacherous, the Scirocco (pronounced Shirocco) held its line, not once giving way to understeer, oversteer, or any uncontrollable steer.
Unlike some small sports cars, the Scirocco kept occupants in relative comfort in sculptured, supportive seats both in stop/start situations in traffic to speedy cruising on the highway and swift side-to-side manoeuvring in the mountains. No one sat in the back where leg room is limited to comfort for the average-build occupant.
Hard driving had taken its toll, sucking the 55 litre fuel tank almost dry. We cruised into a village service station with the digital readout of distance to empty reaching zero kilometres several kilometres back up the road, so there is some leeway.
With the mountains conquered, it was off to the racetrack. Winton awaited. With the vehicle stability aids neutralised by pushing a button on the centre console I took to the twisting track in the six-speed manual ‘R’ with much confidence only to dance in the trackside dirt at the second set of tight bends. Hey, I had never seen, let alone, driven on the tricky track before.
Back on the bitumen the Scirocco R raced around the track, making the best of things in third, with the odd shift down to second in a couple of tight spots. Pressing on hard, only had the engine coming back with a triumphant roar. Exhilarating.
The DSG was just as well matched with the power plant, obliging even when the driver miscued with the paddles. Passive safety systems put a comforting arm around all occupants. They include driver and front passenger airbags, plus front side airbags and curtain airbags front and rear.
There are three-point seat belts all round, with front seatbelts having pre-tensioners and belt force limiters. Non-application of any belt results in an audible warning. Active safety is continuously making sure things don’t go overly out of shape in the ride and handling department. They include electronic stabilisation programme, anti-slip regulation, electronic differential lock extended to a further electronic diff lock.
Braking makes use of an ABS system with brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, and hill start assist for safe setting off on inclines. Standard are 19-in Talladega alloy wheels with 235/35 R 19 tyres. The body takes the form of a rigid safety cell with front and rear crumple zones and side impact protection. It’s galvanised and with a 12-year anti-corrosion perforation warranty is unlikely to succumb to weakness through the life of the vehicle.
To call the Scirocco R, which shares its name with a wild wind, sleek is to sell the car short. It is shaped like an arrow made to pierce the atmosphere at high speed. Up front, engineers made sure there were enough cooling inlets to keep engine and brakes at optimum efficiency, while front spoiler and rear roof-mounted spoiler and diffuser ensure aerodynamic qualities of the car are maintained.
Standard LED daytime running lights flanking the front air inlets and twin oval tailpipes tipped in chrome and smoke tinted lights add a unique flavour to the design. In the cabin standards are high. Sports seats are clothed in fabric named Kyalami after the South African Formula One grand prix circuit; instruments include aluminium inserts and have white backlighting and blue pointers.
Central to everything, however, is the leather bound three-spoke multi-function steering wheel with a flat bottom. As a vital link between driver and road it should offer comfort and efficiency. It does. In the DSG model it carries gearshift paddles. A high-end audio system has eight speakers, six-disc CD changer, MP3 playback function with title display and Aux-in multi-media socket in the centre console.
VGA managing director Anke Koeckler says the Scirocco had been on the local radar for some time, because of the Aussies attraction to VW performance. One in four Golfs sold here is the performance package GTI. Favourable currency exchange rates put the final tick to the proposition, she says.
The Scirocco name originally comes from the time in the mid 1970s when Volkswagen named vehicles after prominent winds, including Passat (the German word for trade wind), Golf (after Gulf Stream), Bora (Bora), Polo (Polar winds), and Jetta (jet stream). It was a replacement for the ageing Karmann Ghia coupe and was based on the Golf/Rabbit and Jetta platform. Penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it was sleeker and sportier than the Golf or Jetta.
Scirocco sales continued until 1992 in Germany. It wasn’t until 2006 that Volkswagen officially announced production of a new Scirocco model at the AutoEuropa assembly plant at Palmela, Portugal, where the present three-door coupe continues to be produced.
MODEL LINE-UP
Scirocco R 6-speed manual $47,490
Scirocco R 6-speed DSG automatic with sport mode and Tiptronic function $49,990
(Manufacturer’s list price not including on-road costs and dealer charges) |
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