Volkswagen Scirocco R DSG 2015 review

The Scirocco is a hot Mediterranean wind that can reach hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe.

It's also the name of a hot, sporty VW, the latest version of which is heading to Australia early next year – and it too, is capable of hurricane speeds. Essentially a low slung three-door version of the previous Golf, the Scirocco coming our way is the 'R', an upmarket stylised car with movie star looks and a lot of good bits, including a sports suspension, an electronic differential and some serious stopping power.

PRICE

The price has not yet been fixed, but we reckon it will be in the mid to late 40K range, slotting in between the GTI and all-wheel-drive Golf R.

MECHANICALS

The 'Roc has a 188kW/330Nm 2.0litre direct-injection turbo engine, driving the front wheels through a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed DSC. It runs on 19-inch alloy wheels with (very) lo-pro tyres and has an interior to please any red-blooded driver.

Some overseas markets get a 206kW version, but 188 was deemed better for hot climates and it provides more than enough punch.

Changes to the new one are quite subtle, with LED taillights and daytime running lights, a reprofiled rear bumper with black diffuser and a pair of big-calibre chromed oval exhaust pipes, those huge new wheels and an aggressive-looking face.

Inside, there are well-bolstered sports seats, a switch for the adaptive chassis control, a new flat-bottomed R-spec steering wheel, a multi-function computer and a trio of dash-top gauges for oil temperature, stopwatch and turbo boost pressure.

The updates also include satnav, a rear view camera and front and rear parking sensors.

THE DRIVE

We drove both the manual and double-clutch versions on some of the Yarra Valley's fine roads, preferred the manual for the twisty bits, but the fast-shifting DSG was a boon in traffic. It's also marginally quicker and lighter on fuel.

The engine has a lovely bark as it pulls the car to 100km/h in 6.0 seconds and its low centre of gravity, steering and macstrut and multi-link suspension give it superb accuracy and adhesion through corners. It's a joyous thing on a twisty road, never short on back-shoving pep and its big discs bring it to a quick, sure stop.

But the wheel package, which has tyres with a miniscule 35cm aspect ratio, can jar on bumps. It's practical too, being a genuine four seater, rather than a squishy two-plus-two, and the rear seats have a 50/50 split to offer up to 1006 litres of cargo space.

Of course it has the obligatory Bluetooth and associated stuff, but real drivers don't worry about that. It's all in the drive, and the Scirocco R provides that in spades. Economy? The official figure is 8.0 litres/100km.