Overview

Crowning its performance coupe range is the Volkswagen Scirocco R – a high speed three-door based on the successful Golf R underpinnings

High speed coupe

Using the Scirocco’s existing bodywork but with more substantial bumpers, the R looked purposeful without being in-your-face.

The 2010-2012 Golf R and SEAT Leon Cupra R from the same era already had good reputations as fine-handling front-wheel drive cars, but the sleeker appearance of the Scirocco’s tall but tapering coupe rear made it look and feel more special.

With 265hp galloping away from its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, Scirocco R performance was impressive, but being a Volkswagen, economy and everyday usability wasn’t badly compromised either.

Mid-life facelift

As with the rest of the Volkswagen coupe line-up, the Scirocco R was facelifted in summer 2014, looking even more aggressive and purposeful than before.

Similar to the six-generation Golf R, the bespoke front bumper features fins on its outer edges and LED lights, giving it a contemporary look too.

LEDs feature within the reprofiled rear light lense,s too, along with a tweaked back bumper and a modified tailgate on which the VW roundel doubles as a boot opening lever.

The outgoing ‘Talladega’ alloy wheels are replaced by the new ‘Cadiz’ design, still at an 18-inch diameter, and completing the visual enhancements.

Inside, the existing dashboard design was improved with new instruments and a set of additional dials consisting of a chronometer, a turbocharger pressure gauge and a display for oil temperature, imitating the original 1974 Scirocco.

Uprated engine

Under the facelifted Scirocco R’s bonnet you’ll find a fettled version of the original 2.0-litre turbocharged unit, with peak power increased to 280bhp.

Read on for the full Volkswagen Scirocco R review.