2009 Volkswagen Scirocco R debuts
May 20, 2009 by George Skentzos
Volkswagen has unveiled its performance flagship Scirocco R-Line model in production form following its concept debut at the Bologna Motor Show.
The Scirocco R features a modified version of the previous generation Golf’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which boosts power to 195kW and 350Nm.
This 2.0 TSI unit is mated as standard to a six-speed manual transmission with a twin-clutch DSG semi-automatic transmission also available as an option when the car goes on sale in Britain by fall 2009.
Volkswagen has reportedly utilised the previous ‘EA113′ engine over the Golf MkVI’s newer 2.0 TSI codenamed ‘EA888′ as a means of lowering development costs.
It may come as a disappointment to most to hear that VW has opted to retain the Scirocco’s front-drive layout, although this decision has kept the car’s weight down to around 1,330kg.
The Scirocco R hits the 100km/h mark in just 6.5 seconds – or 0.1 seconds faster with the DSG – on par with the last Golf R32 4Motion and almost half a second quicker than the latest Golf GTI.
Beneath the skin, VW has also upgraded the Scirocco’s chassis with lowered sports suspension featuring new dampers and springs, larger disc brakes all round and a new electronic XDS differential as found in the latest Golf GTI.
Visually the R-Line version is largely faithful to the concept, boasting a new front bumper with larger air intakes, new side skirts and rear bumper, smoked tail lights and LED daytime running lights.
The Scirocco R rides on newly designed 18-inch five-spoke rims identical to those found on the concept with customers also able to select 19-inch wheels in the same style.
Inside, the R-Line model features front sport bucket seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel with the ‘R’ logo, aluminium cabin highlights and restyled instrument dials.
While the Scirocco is no closer to arriving in Australia, the promise of a right-hand-drive variant for the UK market means this decision is now up to the accountants rather than the engineers.
Print it: 
My favourite car! Bring it now!
Looks good, but, the performance isn’t very exciting?
With 195kw and 350nm only manages 0-100 in 6.5 sec? That sounds like understated.
I think 6.5 seconds is quite respectable. Most hot hatches take about 7.0 seconds and this is no lighter but has the same engine as the GTI. It’s not meant to be REALLY fast, it’s just meant to be fast. Looks great too. I don’t know if I’d take one over an Audi TT but if they were sat side by side, I don’t know if I could resist the Scirocco.
But its a ‘R’.
Means better be faster than ‘most hot hatches’.
What I don’t get is, this car is lighter, has more power and torque compare with a audi S3, but the S3 manages 0-100 in something like 5.8 sec? A front wheel 190kw mazda3 Mps also manages 0-100 in 5.9 sec.
Where does the 195kw go???
While I would possibly prefer maybe another VW Group product with around the same power (VW Passat R36, Skoda Superb V6, SEAT Leon Cupra etc) I think this thing is a great little car. I would much prefer (even the STD version) over a Golf GTI (though I wouldn’t buy one at all…), and this Hi-Po version is even more to the case. It looks great, is priced resonaly, has great quality (as does any VW Group product) and sling-shot performance (although I also think 6.5 to 100 is abit slow…40 more kW equates to more than 0.5 in my mind, compared to GTI).
COME ON VW AUSTRALIA, DO IT! IF VW NZ GETS IT…
Obviously the previous GTI engine that is being used in this “R” version is more suited for turning up the “wick” on the turbo.
I like the rear of the car but the front looks a little strange to me.
The 6.5 sec. time is ok.Remember it’s not an AWD car.A 2009 WRX would be faster from 0-100km/h.
wow…
want one – in black. now.
“by fall 2009″? I think the word you are looking for is “autumn”. Is this a copy/paste job or are you trying to enforce American English on us?
I was a bit disapointed to read that this will not use an all-wheel-drivetrain and that it uses older engine technology. Oh well, at least it looks good. Just wait for the Golf GTI-R with its AWD, more powerful modern engine, with the added benefit of optional four doors and more disguised racer credential.
Sorry for the typo people, but I am used to Apple’s free Safari web browser for Mac and Windows with auto miss-spelling notification, a feature missing in Internet Explorer and Firefox. Whoops did I just pop in a bit of a plug, can’t help myself if it will help some other people on this site who sometimes miss-spell words.
Correction: disappointed.
now i know where kia went for their styles cues (cerato)…
Mmm, yummy. For those who think the “older” engine is “old hat”, think again.
For those who think it will only do 6.5 0-100, I’d bet it will pull much harder than that. VW quotes the MKV GTI as having 147Kw, but many have been put on the dyno and deliver that power at the wheels……
The fact that this version is being left at FWD leaves the door open for a super performance version to sit above it. Maybe the 2.5T engine and AWD, say 245kw, 450nm
Reckless1….. pardon my ignorance but what is this 2.5T you mention? Cheers
Will the FWD see it suffer the TRD fate? Sure it looks great and is light but with in hours with that much torque smashing the front wheels you will have pop eye shaped arms trying to corner it under power. The people will demand AWD.
Very nice looking car, if only it had AWD and could be purchased in Australia.
I don’t understand how New Zealand gets the Scirocco, but Australia does not. Surely with Australia’s larger population and stronger currency it would make more sense in Australia.
Mal,
I believe that 2.5T Is the 5 Cylinder job from Audi that they are releasing in the Audi RS3…AWD, 245Kw, 450Nm…
Audi used a 5 Cyl Engine back in the 80’s to power its Rally Cars…that thing was a Howitzer…
So VW + Audi share the parts Bin, kinda like Ford and Volvo.
Then you get things like the Focus RS and potentially, an Audi Powered VW Sirocco… I guess time will tell!!
referencing quote below from ChineseDriver…it is called AWD mate.
ChineseDriver Says:
May 20th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
But its a ‘R’.
Means better be faster than ‘most hot hatches’.
What I don’t get is, this car is lighter, has more power and torque compare with a audi S3, but the S3 manages 0-100 in something like 5.8 sec? A front wheel 190kw mazda3 Mps also manages 0-100 in 5.9 sec.
Where does the 195kw go???
ill take mine in white please…
Fanboy, I’m not sure but could it be to do with traction? As I’m sure you know the S3 has Quattro and this is only FWD.
Cheers Chris… I suspected it might be the new Audi 5 cylinder, I just thought it may be wishful thinking to find it under the bonnet of a new VW as well (if that does ever happen.) Hope it does… Our previous car was an Audi 90 and I miss that thrumming growl it used to make when poked….
It has an ‘R’ on the steering wheel. hmmmm. That feature must really add to the performance. How those sort of features are ever a selling point I will never know. Dont quite get where VW is going with this – really – where does the two door FWD Golf GTI Pirelli whhop de doo etc etc sit in the grand scheme of things then. Perhaps VW wanted an excuse to use Japanese styling cues in the shape and unload the older motors on an unsuspecting new generation of car buyers.
TWO things:
1. This car needs to be on sale in Australia ASAP.
2. This car does not have a costly 4WD system, so it should be good value.
If VW OZ can land it here sub 50k, I’ll have a black one thanks.
JJ
Please, please, please bring this car to australia.
Where do i sign?!!!
Nice car good looks etc etc…. Salesman, VW have been playing with FWD for that long that I think the Torque steer you experience in your “Chosen” product is but a distant memory in VW land :-)
Remember that the Focus RS has more power and more torque but (as reported) NO TORQUE STEER!!!!!!!
It can be done if you have clever engineers
Mal,
Glad to help!!
If you still want a Five Pot Growl, The Volvo C30 and Focus XR5 Turbo both possess these engine configs and have a great sound (particularly the XR5 as it has a bigger Zorst and something called an acoustic symposer that pipes all the lovely pops and bangs into the cabin!)…It will be cheaper than an RS3 by a mile and if you mod it, you will get comparable performance to an RS3…minus the AWD but still, a very capable chassis in both models mentioned.
Not bad but the focus RS looks better…
No way the Focus RS looks better. Its got a stiff body with a huge aggressive mouth with boring tail lights. The VW is more interesting to look at, more creative, more sophisticated and its very unique and refreshing to look at. The Focus is just like the standard Focus only with attached body kits around the car to give it sharp aggressive looks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiiOZS64pxU
Fanboy,
WHO TOLD YOU THE SCIROCCO R IS AWD mate??
Or you consider Mazda3 MPS as AWD???
Phillip Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 12:33 am
“by fall 2009″? I think the word you are looking for is “autumn”. Is this a copy/paste job or are you trying to enforce American English on us?
You took the words right out of my mouth Phillip
This still leaves the door open for a R20 Golf release.
The same engine with AWD in a similar weight package ought to get sub 6 secs.
Neo Utopia Said:
help some other people on this site who sometimes miss-spell words.
—
correction: misspell … lol. FYI Firefox has an inbuilt spell checker (and yes there is an Australian dictionary extension available).
Anyway, could the “slow” 0-100 time possibly be a turbo-lag issue?
Phillip Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 12:33 am
“by fall 2009″? I think the word you are looking for is “autumn”. Is this a copy/paste job or are you trying to enforce American English on us?”
Not knocking the Car Advice guys, but you’d be surprised how many stories I’ve read on this blog that are worded almost identically to articles off other sites. It is a “blog” after all though.
Regarding acceleration figures, it seems about right to me. I have an APR GTi which (supposedly) has 188kw and about 400nm of torque. I can certainly vouch for the torque as it pulls like a train. Anyway, my GTi is probably mid 6’s to 100kmh partly due to traction difficulties getting off the line in first and second gears. You really can’t plant it in either gear without some traction control interference. So I would imagine the Scirocco probably has the same issues.
I personally am looking forward to the GTi-R release. Lighter car than old R32 but with power and AWD. Should be a winner.
Very stylish exterior and modern interior. I like it.
Let me compare the performance to 09 WRX: 0-100km/h its 6.5 vs 5.3 seconds, power figures (kW/nM) 195/350 vs 195/343
But then this car is more luxurious
Hey “Luke,”
How can I turn on the red dashed underline spell checker in Firefox? Would make life a bit easier for me. By the way, my alias name is also Luke, no relation to the Angles and Demons movie though, LOL.
Were there any confirmation on the release of AWD GolfVI GTI-R R-20 whatever? Why are so many ppl expecting VW to do another AWD as a given?
I can’t imagine VW making another AWD golf if Scirocco isn’t getting one.
Neo Utopia:
Under “Tools -> Options -> Advanced”, in the “General” tab under “Browsing” make sure “Check my spelling as I type” is enabled.
Your right Chinese Driver. Mazda 3 MPS 190Kws, 390 NM= 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds. If the V dub was AWD it would certainly get into the 6 second marker. Isnt it a bit heavy for a 3 door hatchback?