1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Photos, engines & full specs

Volkswagen introduced the second generation of the Scirocco in 1981, and unlike its predecessor, it was designed in-house but with a different approach.

While the first generation was mostly a Golf with a chopped roof, the second generation came with an entirely new design. It didn't carry over any design elements from its sibling. In addition, its look was so sporty that most customers dared to compare it with premium-segment coupes, such as the BMW 3 Series.

With its wedge-shaped design, the Scirocco II certainly looked appealing for those times. Its rectangular headlights and flat front fascia had no parts in common with the Golf, apart from the VW chromed badge placed in the middle of the grille. The raked windshield and the low greenhouse created a sporty image for the car and were completed by a raked-forward tailgate at the back. Its overall design looked similar to the famous Audi Coupe. However, that was not only more expensive but also more powerful.

Inside, the automaker placed low-mounted seats for the front passengers and a tiny bench in the back for two, although it was more useful for a purse, a briefcase, and a child. The squared-looking dashboard featured a raised instrument cluster filled with dials carried over from the Golf. On the center stack, Volkswagen installed the ventilation controls and a tape player. As an option, depending on the engine version, the Scirocco was also available with air conditioning.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a wide choice of engines during the ten-year production run that ranged from a sluggish 60 PS (59 hp) unit to a healthy 140 PS (137 hp) powerplant. Worth noting that the car was very light.