It's been a sad year for Volkswagen fans. Due to the emissions scandal, the company stopped development of several projects, including the Golf R400. However, several models that aren't making a profit are also being discontinued, and it looks like it's finally time for the Scirocco to go.
Named after a hot, dusty wind that blows from Africa across Southern Europe, this front-wheel-drive coupe has soldiered on for many years. However, the Australian division of Volkswagen announced its going to discontinue the Scirocco and send it off with a 150-strong limited edition called the R Wolfsburg.
Personally, as a fan of the VW brand, I hate the Wolfsburg editions. That factory is being made into a Hogwarts of the carmaking business. Neither is the special trim added to the car all that impressive. In fact, the photos they've provided are just screenshots of the configurator. However, I immediately recognized all the features as belonging to the Black Style package, launched this spring.
As the name suggests, it adds black trim everywhere, including some alloy wheels. Only two color choices are available, the Oryx White Pearl Effect and Rising Blue Metallic. Inside, the Scirocco R Wolfsburg gets bucket seats covered in black leather, but not much else.
The powertrain is the standard one, consisting of a 2.0 TSI turbo engine that makes 280 horsepower. However, we believe this isn't the same engine as in the SEAT Leon Cupra or the GTI Clubsport. You can have it with a standard 6-speed manual for $49,490 AUD, in which case the 'Rocco will get to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, or pay 51,990 Australian dollars for the DSG and be 0.2s faster. Either way, sales will start on November 14th, so the Scirocco isn't dead yet.
But why do we think that they are going to discontinue the model so soon? Well, it's not soon at all, as watching a few old YouTube videos have made us realize the R ways playing around with the previous generation of the Ford Focus RS way back in 2009.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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