The Goodwood Test: Volkswagen Scirocco GTS

Heritage

There are a few cars in Volkswagen’s history that stand head and shoulders above the rest in terms of both brilliant design and cult status. The obvious leader is the original Golf GTI, then the split-screened camper van so beloved of hippies and new age travellers the world over, the Karmann Ghia perhaps also joins this list, but it is the Ghia’s replacement that for many stands nearly shoulder to shoulder with the GTI as the pinnacle of VW cool – the Scirocco.

Named after a Mediterranean wind that can reach near hurricane speeds, the 2+2 Scirocco was launched in the middle of the ‘70s in an attempt to bring a sportier edge to the company, whose soft-sided Karmann Ghia had been soldiering on since 1955. Designed by Giugiaro the Scirocco then (like now) was based on the platform of the Golf, but its sportier design instantly caught the eye, and before it was replaced in 1981 the Mk1 Scirocco had shifted over half a million units. The replacement MkII was designed by Volkswagen’s in-house design team and arrived in 1981 at the Geneva Motor Show. Although equally as striking as the original (and arguably more distinctive from the Golf than its predecessor) the MkII would sell just over half as many cars before production ceased in 1992. Leaving a coupe-shaped hole in Volkswagen’s range that would not be filled until 2008 when, after a 16-year wait, the third generation Scirocco went on sale.

Design

The latest Scirocco may have undergone a facelift in 2014, but it is still essentially the same car that first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008. A testament to its design then, that while automotive styling has gone through numerous revolutions in those nine years, the Scirocco (with minimal tweaks) still looks utterly fabulous in 2017. Carrying all underpinnings of the Golf MkV the Scirocco manages to stand completely apart from its more practical sister. The striking front end, now featuring a more aggressive chin than originally, is still not shared with any of its siblings, and the rounded rear manages to avoid the pitfalls of rotundness that oft come with a hatched-back. It is only inside that the design’s sparkle begins to fade. The Golf’s interior moved on many moons ago, but the Scirocco now sits two generations older than its sister, leaving the cabin feeling slightly dated, although still not an unpleasant place to be.

Performance

This GTS model is designed to celebrate the anniversary of the original Scirocco GTS and contains Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol in 217bhp-guise, which matches the Golf GTI. Despite being connected to some slightly ageing oily bits the Scirocco is still an entertaining drive. That 2.0-litre petrol revs all the way to 7,000rpm with a pleasing thrum and, with a small and expected amount of torque steer, pulls the Scirocco up to 62mph in around 6.5 seconds. Turn in is relatively sharp, although not quite at the levels of some 2017 rivals, and nipping around the country lanes of West Sussex will still put a smile on your face. Chuck it in a bit too hard and a whiff of understeer can be detected, but if you get the turn in right and are pushing on you can even squeeze out the smallest hint of lift-off oversteer should you so wish.

Passion 

The Scirocco is still one of the best-looking cars money can buy, even the dated interior and possibly pensionable drivetrain don’t diminish the enjoyment that owning a Scirocco brings. The drive is fun and full of pep while those looks will overcome almost all failings. The current generation’s time must be coming reasonably soon, but it’s safe to say that the third-generation Scirocco has re-confirmed Volkswagen’s ability to build a great looking and fun to drive car when it doesn’t have a Golf badge.