The Volkswagen Scirocco is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive compact coupé, which started selling in 1974 as a sporty subcompact car.
It shares the same mechanical genes as the VW Golf Mk1, VW Jetta Mk1, and the VW Caddy pickup. Volkswagen designed these three cars and the Scirocco using the A Platform, which is a production template applied to compact and midsize front- or four-wheel drive cars with front-mounted transverse engines.
The Scirocco’s design takes inspiration from its name, which refers to the sweltering Mediterranean wind that blows from northern Africa through the Mediterranean basin and to Europe. Thus, the concept of a hot car that moved like the wind. Other wind-inspired VW cars are the VW Passat and VW Bora.
VW Scirocco 1st Generation: Typ 53 (1974–1981)
Concurrent to Volkswagen’s efforts of finally producing the VW Golf Mk1 as the successor to the VW Beetle, it also tinkered with various Golf derivatives and used the Golf-based A Platform to create several models. This new platform signalled VW’s move towards front-wheel-drive vehicles with front-mounted water-cooled engines from their previous design platforms of rear-wheel drive and rear-mounted air-cooled engines.
One such derivative was the Scirocco, called Type 1 but internally coded as Typ 53, which remained Golf-based through all the three generations until its discontinuation in 2017. Though “cloned” from the underpinnings of Golf, the Scirocco was distinctly sportier than its parent car. None other than the most prolific Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign—who would later be named the Car Designer of the Century—styled and reengineered it.
The Scirocco premiered in 1973 at the Geneva Motor Show. It wore Giugiaro’s 1970s origami-style signature, which features flat surfaces, sharp corners, prominent straight lines, rectangular grille-and-headlamp assembly, and wide taillights. Interestingly, Volkswagen released the three-door 2+2 coupé six months ahead of the Golf. After that, it sold more than half a million units for this generation alone.
The coupé sold with four-cylinder petrol engines to choose from, ranging from market-dependent displacements of 1.1L to 2.0L and transmission systems of 4-/5-speed manual and 3-speed automatic. This generation was released in North America, Europe, Japan, and other markets, but did not reach Australia.
VW Scirocco 2nd Generation: Typ 53B (1981–1992)
The Type 2 Scirocco (internally coded as Typ 53B) debuted at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show. It remained as an A-Platform-based three-door coupé but redesigned by Herbert Schäfer this time. It is longer and broader than the Typ 1, although the wheelbase remains at 2,400 mm. The increase in dimensions gave it more headroom and legroom and a more spacious boot area.
A unique feature of this generation is the position of the rear spoiler, located right on the boot lid glass. It received several cosmetic and mechanical changes, including the removal of the Scirocco nameplate opposite the Volkswagen script below the spoiler, the return of the double windshield wiper, and new features like the optional sunroof, space-saving spare wheel, air conditioning, power mirrors and windows, and a range of powertrains.
Volkswagen offered the Type 2 in eleven engines with displacements ranging from 1.3L to 1.8L, initially designed with eight valves but later modified into 16-valve models. Over 290,000 units of the second-generation Scirocco were produced from 1981-1992, although again, this edition was not marketed in Australia.
When the Scirocco was discontinued, a new liftback coupé—the upmarket-aimed VW Corrado—replaced it.
VW Scirocco 3rd Generation: Typ 137 or 1K8 (2008–2017)
In 2006, a sneak-peek to the IROC concept shown at the Paris Motor Show had Scirocco fans talking. With the 14-year absence of the wind-inspired coupé, the possibility of its rebirth had caused a bit of a stir.
The concept car was broader and longer than the Golf, much the same way that the Scirocco was bigger than the Golf. I R O and C are the four middle letters of Scirocco, which strongly alluded to the car long gone. Plus, the concept car was in viper metallic green, which is one of the colours associated with the first-generation coupé.
True enough, the Scirocco returned in 2008 as the hot car personified. Gone were the “folded-paper” look of the 70s and the straight lines retained through the early 90s. Instead, the latest generation sported a sleek outline, low stance, scowling face, and broad hip. The new look is the handiwork of Walter de Silva and Marc Lichte, who both led the in-house design team of VW.
The Type 3 or third-generation Scirocco (internally coded as Type 137 or 1K8) is distinct from the previous models because of its PQ35 (also A5 or Mk5 or 1K) underpinnings, albeit still Golf-based.
The three-door four-seat hatchback went on sale in 2008 and promptly won the attention of the automobile industry. In the same year that it started selling, it won Top Gear Magazine’s Car of the Year award and received a 5/5 rating from the Euro NCAP.
In 2012, the Scirocco finally hit the shores of Australia. The version that arrived was the performance-spec Scirocco R model, and it came with a 2.0L EA113 TSI petrol engine (188 kW, 330 N⋅m) attached to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DSG transmission.
As promised, the latest VW Scirocco has stepped up in terms of sportier looks, performance, and driving experience. The hot hatch came fully loaded with all the driver-assistive equipment, safety features, and high-tech toys expected from a VW performance car. Base trim included adaptive damping control, brake pad wear indicator, cruise control, dusk-sensing headlights, leather steering wheel, glove box cooler, alloy sports pedals, and 19-inch alloys, among many other things.
In 2016, it received further upgrades, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and front and rear crumple zones added to the base specs. Also in the same year, the R Wolfsburg spec level became available for Australian buyers. This package featured the same powertrain as the R model. It came fitted with Alcantara trim and equipped with keyless entry, push-start button, and map reading lights in addition to the base trim.
Sadly, after its much-awaited comeback, the Scirocco left again. It was discontinued in 2017 without warning and clear successor in line.
By JMSL