Design Volkswagen Scirocco R

Design Volkswagen Scirocco R

Dig Volkswagen’s excellent Golf hatchback but yearn for something a little less practical and a lot saucier? Light-bulb moment: It exists, and it’s called the Scirocco.

Enthusiasts know the car’s deal: The first- and second-generation models were sold here in the 1970s and ’80s, but the third-gen model, introduced after a long hiatus, was restricted to Europe. In what could be a tease or a signal of future intentions, Volkswagen sent us a 261-hp Scirocco R—complete with a genuine Wolfsburg registration plate—for a quick test.

First, an apology to current Golf R owners: The Scirocco R solidly wipes the floor with your sophisticated Euro hatch. It hits 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, on its way to a 13.7-second quarter-mile sprint completed at 104 mph—0.7 second and 0.6 second quicker (and 5 mph faster) than the last Golf R we tested.

Top speed is an equally impressive 157 mph, and thanks to its sticky summer tires, the Scirocco clung to our skidpad at 0.94 g. The Golf R, by comparison, tops out at 127 mph and was limited by its all-season tires to 0.86 g on the skidpad.

Engine Volkswagen Scirocco R

Meanwhile, we decided to take our European model Scirocco test car to Munk’s Motors, the local German-iron specialist shop, to read the pulse of some American enthusiasts. As expected, the techs and customers knew exactly what the Scirocco was and went ape.

Away from the shop, John Q. Public proved equally Scirocco-philic. A dad in a Charger volleyed numerous questions while stopped alongside us at a traffic light before asking if we wanted “to race a Hemi.” A lady at the gas station called it “gorgeous.” And some dude in a Z06 cut across three lanes on the highway to get a closer look, nearly taking out a motorcyclist who was also checking out the Scirocco.