Many a modern Volkswagen comes with a keen sense of history. The Golf GTI, possibly my favourite hot hatch ever, has a pedigree dating back to 1976. It's the same age as I am, though it's debatable as to whether I am improving with age as well as the the GTI. The new Beetle stays true to the kooky design of the original, even down to the load of underpowered nonsense under the hood.
And then there is the newest generation of the Volkswagen Scirocco. The original dates back to 1974 when it was developed as a replacement to the eternally lovely Karmann Ghia coupe. Its appearance managed to combine boxiness with sex appeal, which is little wonder as it was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, a true maestro when it comes to creating aesthetically pleasing automobiles. The Scirocco ceased production in 1992, by which time the car was looking more like a shooting brake than a proper sporty beast, unless your sport of choice required room for the golf clubs, hunting rifles or polo mallets.
Come 2008, and VW decided it was time to revive the Scirocco badge. While it doesn't have the same legion of emotionally attached obsessives as the Golf GTI, the latest incarnation is just as appealing as the original. The narrow headlights are like the sly glare of a Siamese cat, the large air intakes at the front look suitably menacing and, from every angle, it looks solid and pugilistic, like a chunky boxer squaring up for a fight.
Last year, we tested the 2.0L Scirocco, and our reviewer was very impressed indeed. This time around, I got to play with the 2.0L Scirocco R-Line, the main difference between it and the one reviewed last year is the power and the torque. The base model has 200 horses and 280Nm of torque. The R-Line, however, is blessed with a turbocharger that boosts the engine to 261hp and 350Nm of torque. Even if you think horsepower is an equine dictatorship and torque is a posh word for chatting, you'd be able to appreciate the difference between these two machines.
From the time you turn the key (and yes, thank goodness, it has an actual key to stick in the ignition and turn, rather than a silly push button), the R-Line's intent is clear. It wants to go fast, it wants to drag off SUVs at traffic lights and it wants to take on roundabouts without the driver touching the brakes. The engine note purrs and softly rumbles at traffic lights, and then part-meows, part-roars as you plant your foot. Its short length makes the Scirocco perfect for getting about in heavy traffic and making nimble lane changes - the only problem being you feel constantly dwarfed by the SUVs.
It is heavier than the Golf GTI and as a result of that and the car's slightly boxy styling, it can feel like driving a rather fast square. Volkswagen's engineers have again put together a very sound package with the suspension and stability control, making oversteer or understeer seem impossible. The handling is so sure, so safe, so sturdy that it could almost be construed as a bit dull if it wasn't for the wonderful sounds from the engine and the way it accelerates. Magnificently. The week before, I drove the Volkswagen Phaeton, the luxurious 7 Series-baiting saloon, which reaches speeds of 140kph and above without the driver even noticing. In the R-Line, you are far more aware of how fast you're travelling, but you also feel more in tune with the car. This makes it much more of a driver's car than the Phaeton, which is one for the chauffeur, not the sporty driver.
Flick on the sports suspension and everything tightens up and makes the car feel much meaner. But like most sports suspension modes, it gets tiring and a bit uncomfortable, and soon you'll find yourself switching back to comfort mode. Once again, the gearbox is superb - six speeds add up to great fuel economy. I didn't even see the orange light of the fuel warning on the guage when I drove it across Dubai in traffic, where I seemed to hit every red light between the Airport Free Zone and Media City, on to Abu Dhabi via a Jumeirah breakfast and then back once more to Dubai. I still had more than a quarter of a tank after all that driving - petrol prices have gone up, people. The increase is not much but it will make a difference for many. For companies who want a reliable but cool company car, this is one well worth considering.
There were some visibility issues with the chunky A-pillar on the passenger side coming down like a giant black pudding and making it a little hard to keep an eye on the idiocy in the lane to the right. Also, while there are reversing sensors, it was essential to keep your wits about you when moving backwards, as the narrow back window made it hard to see what was going on. I'd strongly recommend a reversing camera as standard on the Scirocco.
But if you use your mirrors, take care and assume nothing when it comes to what might be going on behind the car or in the right lane, it shouldn't be a big issue. And then you can concentrate on the task of enjoying the power and performance that this little fighter has to offer.
