Wind Of (Not Much) Change - Volkswagen Scirocco R

The Scirocco wasn’t broken, so VW has tinkered only lightly

We’ve always been fans of the VW Scirocco. Six years on and 200,000 sold, its success has enticed others to dip their toe in the affordable coupe market: Toyota GT86,

BMW 2-series, Hyundai Veloster… so what’s Volkswagen doing to respond to the challenge? The answer, surprisingly, is not much. That’s because its engineers are busy working hard on the fourth-generation Scirocco replacement that’s two years away. That car, like the Audi TT, will be based on the lighter MQB platform.

For now, the current ’roc soldiers on with the mildest of facelifts, the biggest visual draw limited to a front bumper that now includes aero blades apparently pinched from the side of a Ferrari Mondial. There’s also a revised bumper, and the front and rear tail lamps are new too, but that’s about it.

Volkswagen Scirocco R

It’s under the bonnet where the major changes happen. The Scirocco has adopted almost all the latest Golf’s cleaner euro 6-compliant engines. This happily means more power and lower emissions. The headline changes are the 158bhp 1.4-litre has been dropped for a 178bhp version of the GTI’s 2.0-litre turbo and there’s now 148bhp version of the 2.0-litre TDI that emits just 109g/km CO2; a reflection that 75% of all Sciroccos are now diesel powered, a tasty, low-tax, company car alternative.

The biggest power increase is gifted to the range-topping Scirocco R that jumps from 261bhp to 276bhp, torque sticking at 258lb ft. Sounds good until you remember the Golf r has 296bhp. So why the difference? Well, the Scirocco r is the only car in the range that retains its old engine. This means the all-wheel-drive Golf r is not only quicker but more efficient too, despite being heavier.

Scirocco in its element here, and ’strewth it’s quick. 276bhp delivers 0-62mph in 5.5sec

VW’s engineers have employed a similarly thorough approach to tuning the r’s chassis: they’ve done nothing. But before you just go and buy the Golf R, or one of the Scirocco’s newer rivals, it’s best to get behind the wheel the burbly old turbocharged 2.0-litre engine remains a joy and is as characterful as ever, but now it genuinely feels quicker, and it is. The 0-62mph benchmark flashes by in just 5.5 seconds – fully three-tenths quicker than previously.

Golf’s interior has always been plusher. But this is no hardship

It still does without any mechanical LSD despite the extra shove, but the traction-control-based faux diff does a fine job of clawing the Scirocco out of even tight second-gear corners. It’s there, in a tight and twisting sequence of bends, that the Scirocco really shines, feeling light, agile, grippy and adjustable to throttle inputs right at the limit. It’s also incredibly fast. What it lacks is that final level of big lift-off engagement and suppleness the peugeot RCZ R offers over a bumpy b-road, but the Scirocco remains fantastic fun to hustle.

If you need to carry four, the Scirocco R still remains top of its class after all these years. Just think how brilliant its replacement will be.