Volkswagen Scirocco R - poisonous hatchback
The slender Scirocco has won the hearts of many drivers. On the roads, we mostly meet versions with a weaker engine. The flagship R variant has a 265-horsepower 2.0 TSI under the hood. It reaches “hundreds” in 5,8 seconds The advantages of the model do not end there, which will have to fight for buyers in the increasingly saturated hot hatch segment.
In 2008, the third generation Scirocco appeared on the market. Five years later, the muscular hatchback still looks perfect. It is difficult to imagine what corrections could be applied to the expressive line of the body. The most powerful Scirocco R is visible from afar. It has thicker bumpers, distinctive Talladega wheels with 235/40 R18 tires and an exhaust system with tailpipes on both sides of the bumper.
Under the hood of the Scirocco R is a 2.0 TSI unit that develops 265 hp. and 350 Nm. Similar engines were used in previous generations of the Audi S3 and Golf R. Only the Scirocco R sends power to the front wheels only. Some see it as a flaw, others rave about the spontaneous and somewhat vicious nature of the Scirocco R. The four-wheel drive siblings are an oasis of calm.
The vehicle always maintains safe understeer. Even when closing the throttle quickly in corners, it's difficult to engage the rear linkage, which is very easy and natural for the new Golf GTI and GTD. The steering, despite the electric power steering, remained communicative. We get enough information about the situation at the point of contact of the tires with the road.
Like the weaker Volkswagen, the Scirocco R has a permanently active ESP. The button on the central tunnel allows only traction control and shifting the intervention point of the stabilization program. Electronics works late - beyond the grip. It is recommended that the driver know at least its approximate location, since computer correction can quite effectively crush the car, and at the same time confuse the driver. Volkswagen does not even offer a locking differential for an additional fee, which can be found, for example, in the Renault Megane RS with the Cup package. German engineers decided that the "dyphra" electronic lock would be enough. The process is carried out by the XDS system, which brakes an excessively slipping wheel.
Supercharged direct injection engine delivers even power. The car does not choke even with forced acceleration from 1500 rpm. Full traction appears at 2500 rpm and remains in effect up to 6500 rpm. If the driver uses the engine's potential sparingly, the Scirocco R will burn around 10 l/100 km on the combined cycle. With a stronger pressure on the gas, the principle “turbo lives - turbo drinks” becomes applicable. The values displayed by the on-board computer are increasing at an alarming rate. 14, 15, 16, 17 l / 100km ... The range is reduced just as spectacularly. The fuel tank holds 55 liters, so ambitious drivers may have to make another gas station visit less than 300 km after filling up. Opening the hatch that closes the cap, it turns out that Scirocco R is a gourmet 98th gasoline.
Volkswagen says it can be reduced to 6,3 l/100 km in the extra-urban cycle. Even working out 8 l / 100 km can be considered good luck - the result will be obtained only when driving very slowly on country roads. On the highway, while maintaining a constant speed of 140 km / h, the vortex in the tank draws almost 11 l / 100 km. The reason is the relatively short gear ratios. Shortly before reaching 100 km/h, the DSG shifts into third gear, which "ends" up to 130 km/h. The maximum speed is achieved on the "six". In most vehicles, the last gear is overdrive, which is used to reduce fuel consumption.
The Scirocco R sounds interesting. At lower rpm you can pick up the noise of the air being forced through the turbine, at higher rpm you can hear the bass exhaust. A hallmark of the Scirocco R is the volley that accompanies every upshift with a loaded engine. Sports car aficionados may miss shots of burning mixture after subtracting the throttle, or an expressive roar at high revs. Competitors have proven that it is possible to go one step further.
The dashboard design is very conservative. The Scirocco received the "spiced up" cockpit from the Golf V with a slightly redesigned center console, a more rounded instrument panel and distinctive door handles. Triangular handles do not blend well with interior lines. They give the impression that they were forcibly stuck. Worse still, they can make unpleasant noises. The interior of the "eRki" is only slightly different from that of the weaker Scirocco. More profiled seats appeared, aluminum slats with the letter R were installed, and the speedometer scale was expanded to 300 km / h. Rarely found in popular cars, value is pleasing to the eye and fires the imagination. Is she overly optimistic? Volkswagen says the Scirocco R can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h. Then the electronic limiter should intervene. The network has no shortage of videos showing the acceleration of the car to a meter speed of 264 km / h. The German publication Auto Bild conducted GPS measurements. They show that fuel reduction occurs at 257 km/h.
Salon Scirocco R is ergonomic and spacious enough - the designers disposed of the space in such a way that two adults could travel in the rear, separate seats. There could have been more headroom in the first and second rows. Even people who are 1,8 m tall may feel uncomfortable. Abandoning the panoramic roof, we slightly increase the amount of space. However, the luggage compartment does not give any reasons for complaints. It has a small loading opening and a high threshold, but it holds 312 liters, and with the rear seats folded down, it grows to 1006 liters.
A basic Volkswagen Scirocco R with a DSG gearbox costs PLN 139. Standard equipment includes, among other things, automatic air conditioning, bi-xenon swivel, black headlining, aluminum decors in the cabin, as well as LED lighting - license plate and daytime running lights. Option prices are not low. Rear visibility is not the best, so for those who travel a lot around the city, we recommend parking sensors for PLN 190. A noteworthy addition is Dynamic Chassis Control (PLN 1620) - a suspension with electronically controlled damping force. In Comfort mode, bumps are selected quite smoothly. The sport finds fault even with newly constructed sections of highways. The stiffening of the suspension is accompanied by a decrease in power steering and a sharpening of the reaction to gas. The changes are not colossal, but allow you to enjoy the ride even more. You can refuse some options with a clear conscience. The navigation system RNS 3580 is quite old and costs PLN 510. A more aesthetic MFA Premium on-board computer screen cost PLN 6900, while cruise control costs an extraordinary PLN 800. Too bad Bluetooth also requires access to your pocket, which is a PLN 1960 option.
The tested Scirocco received optional Motorsport seats. The Recaro-supplied buckets look great and support the body through corners just as effectively. In their design, there was not enough space for side airbags. Unfortunately, the disadvantages of optional seats do not end there. Strongly defined sides can tease more obese people. Even in the lowered position, the seat is far from the floor. Add to this the soffit, lowered by the frame of the panoramic roof, and we get a claustrophobic interior. For places you have to pay PLN 16! This is an astronomical amount. For a lot less money, you can buy high performance carbon bucket seats. If we decide to install them, we will lose the ability to recline back to let passengers into the back seat.
Those interested in buying a Volkswagen Scirocco R have time to think about car equipment and raise the necessary funds. The number of copies planned for 2013 has already been sold out. Dealers will start taking orders for new cars, most likely from January next year.
Volkswagen Scirocco R, despite its true sporting aspirations, has remained a car that has proven itself in everyday use. The rigid suspension provides the necessary minimum of comfort, the exhaust noise does not tire even on long trips, and the spacious and well-equipped cabin provides worthy conditions for traveling. The technical characteristics of the Erki are excellent, but a properly prepared chassis contributes to their safe use.
