Back For Good?
Most people know that the word Scirocco derives from the Mediterranean wind which rolls in from the Sahara desert, I'm sure you knew that. Did you also know that the last Volkswagen Scirocco finally rolled off the production line as far back as 1989? Well after an absence of around 19 years the Scirocco is back, some say by popular demand others say that the car manufacturers attempts at recycling has started with just the names! Whatever your view on the matter I think the consensus of opinion is that the return of this sporty hatchback is all together a welcome one. The origins of the Scirocco go back to the early seventies when VW realised they would have to replace the beautiful but rather ageing Karmann Ghia. For this they enlisted the help of the Italian styling guru Giorgetto Giugiaro and so the Scirocco (or Type 53) was born. Production continued until around 1989 by which time a further 290,000 were produced. Sales continued to around 1992 until the Scirocco was finally replaced by the Corrado. Many Scirocco enthusiasts remain however and there is a thriving owners network especially in the UK.
Following much press speculation VW unveiled the concept version of the new Scirocco known as the Iroc at the 2006 Paris Motor Show and it attracted a huge amount of attention. The new Scirocco is available this year and has already divided opinion but it is too early to say whether lovers of the old Scirocco will embrace the new model. The Scirocco GT is a three door sports coupe with a 2 litre turbocharged petrol engine developing 200 PS. Acceleration from 0-62 is 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 146mph for the manual version although the automatic is only a second slower. A six-speed auto or manual gearbox is available. The Scirocco comes with ACC (Adaptive Chassis Control) this allows the driver to adjust the suspension settings to suit conditions and ESP (Electronic Stability Programme). Safety features include all-round disc brakes with ABS and a multiple-point airbag system including driver and passenger airbags plus front seat and also curtain airbags. Options include cruise control and hill hold control. The Scirocco comes with 18" alloy wheels as standard but 19" are available as an extra should you really want to look the business. Early reviews of the GT have proclaimed that the handling of the car is exceptional especially at higher speeds with low wind noise and precise cornering. The interior has a high quality feel as you would expect from VW. Fuel economy is better than expected unless you drive the car really hard. 2009 should see the arrival of a less potent 1.4 petrol version together with a diesel. Apparently the Vice-President of VW USA announced that he did not want the Scirocco to go on sale in America as it would clash with sales of the Golf GTI. A claim which was later refuted by the CEO of VW who said the final decision rested with him!
15鈥?alloy wheels were recently mounted with new 205/50 Hankook Ventus V2 Contact 2 tires. Each corner is shown up close in the gallery. Inside, the carpets are protected by rubber mats front and rear. A golf ball-style shift knob is equipped along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and manually-adjustable seats. Equipment includes power windows/mirrors/locks, A/C, cruise control, an AM/FM cassette player, and a power sunroof. A flaw in the interior sunroof cover is pointed out in the gallery, and the digital odometer shows approximately 65k miles. The naturally-aspirated 2.8L VR6 sends power to the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. Output was rated at 172 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque when new. 1,300 on replacing the spark plugs and wires, throttle body, air-flow meter, thermostat, thermostat housing, serpentine belt and tensioner, and air filter. A video showing the exterior, interior, and engine bay can be viewed above. Additional underside photos are displayed in the gallery. Recent service invoices, factory manuals, and the original window sticker are included. 21,285 MSRP and is also shown further in the gallery.
This review has been updated with test results. If you picture rhythmic, life-size anthropomorphic hamsters, it is (let's hope) because of Kia's catchy marketing effort for the Soul subcompact crossover. We won't judge you if it isn't. Perhaps the Soul is familiar because one recently whisked you away from a bar after being summoned by a ride-hailing app. Instantly recognizable and increasingly ubiquitous, the Kia Soul is almost iconic. 18,485), and its seating remains tall and chairlike, as in an SUV. The slab-sided, boxy profile and snub nose are unmistakable, and some additional funkiness is provided by taillights that now practically encircle the back window and a scowling face that resembles a Star Wars stormtrooper helmet. The Soul is a two-time Car and Driver 10Best Trucks and SUVs award winner as much for its intelligent price as its clever interior packaging. There remain gobs of head- and legroom front and rear, even though the new model's 1.2-inch-longer wheelbase and additional 2.2 inches of length fail to translate into much more usable space. Rear legroom is actually down 0.3 inch, while front legroom is up just 0.2 inch.
