Test Drive Volkswagen Scirocco since 2008 Hatchback

Volkswagen Scirocco.

In the mountains of Norway, even in April is fresh fluffy snow. Warm southern wind Sirocco never blowing in these places. And Snego-white Volkswagen Scirocco is not ready to merge with the scenery. If he does not melt the ice, then it scratches exactly!

Under the hood with two diverging ribs, a 200-strong 2-liter turbo engine, working in a pair with a 6-speed preselective DSG transmission, transmitting thrust on the front axle. A minute ago, a 3-door hatchback with a predatory appearance, which is not seen to calculate the coupe, attacked cunning serpentines, and now glorifys in the sun, literally posing in front of the camera. Long hood, contrast finish of the slot of the radiator grid, the low roof line, rising the outline of the rear windows - everything is both on the first scirocco 1974 and the Corrado of the late 1980s. From the new trends - the mighty shoulder line and sharply sharpened front with pronounced horizontals. But how little in common with modern models from Wolfsburg ... is it for sure Volkswagen? The new scirocco is not just Volkswagen, this is the answer of the concern to the question of which Golf could be, chasing the burden of responsibility for five previous generations. Since the team of Walter da Silva chose the evolutionary path of development of the main Wolfsburg car, you will have to make amendments to the rules of the XXI century game, to continue to install them, and not follow someone.

This is not a golf!
How to set the rules of the game in the main European segment, if you called it a golf class? Go from afar. Today, the main enemies of good cars often consider marketers, and sometimes designers. But they are in the middle of the 20th century, in the middle of the 20th century, the class of the pseudo-alone coupe is not rich in Europe. So called cars on the units of ordinary cars, which looked much more interesting to their donors. For example, the elegant Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia 1955 was built on the aggregates of the beetle. Its in the concern and call the forerunner of modern Scirocco. But, in fact, Karmann-Ghia paved the road with a set of decent cars created under the motto not to be, but seem.
Since then, at all continents, consumers with a bang took a stylish compartment of the sports species, due to the modest technical characteristics of cheaper sports cars. In the latest history there are examples of successful pseudo-aligning machines of even small class B: Opel Tigra and Ford Puma. Today, during the recession, such a concept is becoming popular again - and the new scirocco is here as here! The main thing is that he is no longer necessary for him, it is quite capable of being - at least economical and affordable, even fast and luxurious. And at the same time, he again acts practically in the non-existent segment. Why? In recent years, autocontracens have been fascinated by hot hatchbacks. And although many deliberately separate three-dimensional style from 5-door models, the present coupe almost left. There is a sport, speed and excitement, but someone more appreciates a messy appearance
To compete with Ford Focus ST or Mazda 3 MPS, the concern is Golf GTI, because the Mazda MX-3 coupe has long been round in the fly, like the modest Nissan 100 NX with the Body of Targa or CRX on the Honda Civic platform. Even the spectacular three-dimensions of Opel Astra GTC and Renault Megane III in the rear view mirror are easy to confuse with promotional versators. Scirocco is definitely not threatened. It is wider and below the Golf V, on the basis of which is built, and much more aggressive than any machine wearing the emblem of folk cars. It seems that Scirocco is ready not only to eat hatchbacks, but also throw the BMW 1st Series glove and Mercedes CLC.
Unlike the classic Karmann-Ghia, the sports appearance scirocco corresponds to its aggregates. A coupe with TSI gasoline engines will be supplied to Russia. This is a compact, but powerful 1.4 L engine (160 hp) and a 2-liter engine capacity of 200 hp. The first is aggregated with a 6-speed mechanic or 7-speed DSG, and the second - with a proven 6-speed preselective transmission. Other and not necessary!
We got exactly the top version, which has 152 hp on ton of mass.
With the same SCIROCO wheelbase, 109 mm below and 51 mm wider than Golf GTI, its front track is wider than 35 mm, rear - by 59 mm. All over, he is stronger on his feet than the hatchback. Interestingly, the 2.0 TSI engine on scirocco updated, although the difference with the previous TFSI is minimal: it gives the maximum torque with lower revolutions (from 1700 rpm against 1800 rpm at Golf GTI).

Power all-around
Those who traveled on the modern Volkswagen, the SCIROCO salon will seem familiar. The ergonomic steering wheel, like the Golf V GTI, a media system from the standard, common with Skoda models of a set, gorgeous sports chairs, like Passat CC from original solutions - triangular internal door handles. But together the elements of the cabin form no vinaigrette, but in Volkswagenovsky reference workplace. It is enough to customize it under myself, and begins to seem that this car has always been yours.
On the course of Scirocco moderately hard and clearly follows the rotations of the steering wheel. Of course, reactions on winter studded tires were somewhat mediated, but it did not prevent evaluate the deep drive chassis potential. The power structure of the body was governed by additional elements from high-strength hot forged steel. School instructors Volkswagen Driving Experynce organized a small ice trace, where we were able to understand the behavior of the car in a slide in a safe setting. It was pleasantly surprised by the stabilization system: if you put a coupe into the skid, adjusting it with the steering wheel and gas, the ESP will wake up only in order to, undermine the outer rear wheel, to gently fade the car in turn. If the speed is higher and the driver will try to slow down in turn, the electronics intervene earlier and more persistently, up to the engine speed limit. It is not possible to completely disable ESP - the system is always ready to help the driver who warned.
On the roads of Scirocco without tired to the battle, swallowing the heel behind the stud. Roads in Norway are narrow, with coarse asphalt and steep closed turns, and meets the mainly forestry trucks come across the mainly nervous furnishings. A couple of times there were spiral tunnels - exotic, and quite dangerous. I had to choose the entire stock of tires, chassis and brakes to keep the maximum allowed speed. At the same time, the engine capabilities seemed inexhaustible. Tandem Turbomotor and DSG ensured not only a turning acceleration on the first requirement, but also unexpected efficiency. Part of the case in the elasticity of the engine and the commons settings. DSG does not have a torque converter, as a regular automatic, and because it does not smooth the peaks and torus failures. If they were present, as on diesel engines - tracked, but with a narrow working range, DSG would constantly move the transmissions, providing optimal mode. For TSI engines with direct injection and turbocharging this is not required. Smooth torque plateau is hidden over the horizon: the maximum 280 nm turbocarity issues in a colossal range - 1700-5000 rpm. Even in bundles cool turns of DSG retained the highest, VI transmission, only after braking moving to V. In sports mode, the transmission selects lower transmissions at higher revolutions, but the difference in the behavior of the car is insignificant.
The suspension scheme is optimal for such a car: McPherson in front and multi-dimensions from behind. The Option DCC Option System with electronically controlled shock absorbers We were often switched to a comfortable mode, in which the pits and junctions of the asphalt are taken away much softer, and in the smooth areas I liked the hard mode Sport.

As part of the national team
The new Scirocco is a draft pure marketing. And it is impossible to put in the reproach of a car designed to enjoy - aesthetic, pleasure from driving and from the possession. If Volkswagen engineers provide aggregates, from which cars can be assembled, as a designer, marketers and free designers create models without an initial pragmatic installation. Such is Passat CC and Scirocco. Someone will call them the creation of waste, but the contribution to the image and the development of new segments will bring their dividends. If Golf, EOS, Audi A3, Skoda Octavia, SEAT LEON and other decent cars have already been created on one platform and other decent cars, which will prevent the ingredients to get a fictal dish of a little hachers?

Andrei Motorov
Photo by the author


Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TSI Specifications
Dimensions, mm.
4256x1810x1404.
Base, mm.
2578
The volume of the trunk, l
312-1006
Curb weight, kg
1318
engine's type
gasoline L4 with direct injection and turbocharged
Working volume, cube. cm
1984
Max. Power, hp / rpm
200/5100-6000
Max. Moment, nm / rpm
280/1700-5000
Transmission
preselective 6-speed
Drive unit
front
Max. Speed, km / h
235
Acceleration time 0100 km / h, with
7,2
Fuel consumption (medium), l / 100 km
7,7
Volume of tank, l
50
 

A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"