2010 Volkswagen Scirocco Details

Volkswagen's 2010 Scirocco may be sold in limited-edition numbers, if it's sold here at all. The European version is pictured here.

Though details are not yet finalized, let alone confirmed, sources think the U.S.-market 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco will use a fortified version of the GTI's much-liked 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection. We'd guess horsepower will be bumped by at least 25 over the GTI's 200. Power will be delivered to the front wheels, not all four as in the R-models, although an AWD V6 Scirocco R is said to be in the works. The transmission is likely to be VW's DSG 6-speed automated manual, though a straight 6-speed manual could be offered instead or as a supplement.

­Unlike the original versions, the 2010 Vol­kswagen Scirocco is more than just a restyled Rabbit/GTI. Wheelbase is the same, but unique styling makes the coupe some 2 inches longer overall, more than an inch wider, and a rakish 3.1 inches lower than the mainstream hatchbacks. The Scirocco is also heavier at around 3,150 lb, about 75 more than the 4-door Rabbit.

The sexed-up styling hides other key differences. For example, the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco interior is shared not with Rabbit/GTI but with VW's sporty/performance Eos convertible-coupe. That means seating for four, not five, with the rear seat best left to small fry. There's somewhat less cargo room, too. Scirocco's front suspension is basically Rabbit/GTI, but with the wheels spread further apart. That's to enhance handling, which also benefits from the Scirocco's lower center of gravity. And the rear suspension comes from VW's Passat midsize sedan, though with most components made of weight-saving aluminum, not steel.

In addition, the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco should offer VW's Dynamic Chassis Control, perhaps as standard. This isn't yet available on any U.S.-market Rabbit or GTI, though it should be once the redesigned "Mark VI" versions come over, probably as 2011 models. They've just debuted in Europe. DCC is one of those electronic systems that allow the driver to tailor suspension and steering firmness through various settings--Comfort, Normal, and Sport in this case.

Like other current VWs, the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco will come with 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, the company's ESP antiskid system with traction control, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. Other no-cost features should include leather upholstery, heated power front seats, and automatic climate control. A sunroof may be standard as well, along with a navigation system, rear-obstacle detection, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Options will likely run to 19-inch wheels, xenon headlamps, and premium audio.

With all this, the U.S.-market 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco should be pitched as a European grand-touring coupe that's quick in a straight line and entertaining on twisty roads, yet decently frugal with fuel and more affordable than a comparable BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Car and Driver magazine predicts the turbo-four powertrain will claim EPA ratings of 22 mpg city and 29 highway, plus 0-60 mph acceleration of just over six seconds.

First, though, VW must do the math to see if there's a good business case for bringing the Scirocco here. We think there is. A new limited edition might not be what dealers need most these days, but VW would probably have no trouble selling a few thousand Sciroccos each year. And if things work out the way the company hopes, they might sell a lot more Rabbits and GTIs with it.

A Notable Feature of the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco

The new Scirocco is the slightly toned-down retail version of the 2006 IROC concept and is sourced from the Setubal, Portugal plant that also produces the Eos. VW's first sporty coupe appeared way back in 1955 with the stylish Karmann-Ghia, which was based on the humble rear-engine Beetle. The original Scirocco launched in 1974 as the K-G's eventual replacement and as the second "new era" VW with front-wheel drive and a front-mounted, water-cooled engine. It earned something of a cult following in America, thanks in part to crisp "flying doorstop" styling by renowned Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The enthusiasm was remarkable in light of the many woes that afflicted these and other early front-drive VWs, though the troubles were perhaps predictable after years of building the much-simpler Bug.

A heavier, redesigned Scirocco arrived in 1982 with somewhat lumpier styling by VW's own staff, and sales declined through decade's end. VW started over with the 1990 Corrado, a trimmer, tauter front-drive coupe with an interesting 1.8-liter supercharged 4-cylinder engine. Though sales remained underwhelming, the Corrado got a second chance in 1992 by introducing the revvy, narrow-angle "VR6" engine that's still in VW's inventory. This transplant transformed the Corrado, but induced a terminal case of sticker shock, so the model left the U.S. after 1994, though production continued for a while for Europe and other markets. VW then courted enthusiasts with strictly GTIs until early 2008, when it returned to the European sporty-coupe market after nearly 20 years.