Don't bother lamenting the fact that we don't get the Scirocco. Yeah, it's cool looking and all, but how many people in the U.S. would pay $35-$40k for it? As far as Volkswagen is concerned, it's not worth trying to find out.
That said, there's still some potential news here. The upgraded 2.0T used in this Scirocco is the same motor pegged for the Golf R20 we showed you on the Nurburgring last week. The revised engine uses a reinforced block and stronger con-rods to handle its output of 261-horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That power goes through either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG transmission. Volkswagen's XDS differential control manages front wheel torque to get the most power to the ground.
Will any of this matter? The best answer we can give you now is maybe. Volkswagen knows the Scirocco is too expensive to sell in the U.S., but a Golf R20 probably wouldn't be cheap either. If the market improves considerably by the end of this year, Volkswagen could change its mind and give it a shot but don't get your hopes up.
Spy Video: 2010 Volkswagen Golf R20
firstwagon says:
10:11 AM, 05/20/09
I don't see why it needs to cost that much. It's just a fancy Golf.
Sure it has a lot of power but so does the MazdaSpeed3 and it's way cheaper.
alman08 says:
10:26 AM, 05/20/09
How much better is this car better than the GTI? So we have to pay $10k more for the exterior design?
And how much better is the Golf R20 better than the GTI?
ctpax says:
10:32 AM, 05/20/09
what a stupid name for a performance car though - golf.
6sptl says:
11:11 AM, 05/20/09
Saw it at a dealer in Berlin. Nice exterior, cramped interior. Very expensive for what it is even with the 4 cylider base engine. Definitely not worth it, the Germans think so too, I saw exactly zero in circulation.
6sptl says:
11:12 AM, 05/20/09
Saw it at a dealer in Berlin. Nice exterior, cramped interior. Very expensive for what it is even with the 4 cylider base engine. Definitely not worth it, the Germans think so too, I saw exactly zero in circulation.
stovt001 says:
11:16 AM, 05/20/09
I'm with firstwagon. Cost shouldn't be the reason the GTI tops out at 200 hp, even on the newest generation. HP does cost, but not that much. The new GTI should have the 260 hp engine. The GTI already costs more than MS3 and other similar competitors.
bbechtel16 says:
12:46 PM, 05/20/09
I agree with everyone else basically. Screw the Scirocco but I can't believe it costs big money to throw the 261 hp engine in the GTI. I'm not power hungry though so I'd pass on it if it significantly impacted fuel economy. Maybe there are particulate emission concerns?
compliance says:
03:24 PM, 05/20/09
There's no way it would cost that much in the states. Me thinks someone just did a straight currency conversion without taking out the taxes embedded in the Euro price.
kingkhalas says:
04:29 PM, 05/20/09
It looks totally sweet!
Won't sell a lot charging that much.
kyolml says:
07:34 PM, 05/20/09
I paid 28K for an STI, no way I am going to pay more than that for this. BMW 135I cost less than that....
flwind says:
11:48 AM, 05/22/09
This is a beautiful car. Here is a suggestion to VW, throw in a V6 or increase the power of the 4 banger to 300 and bring it as an Audi S1. They will pay 40 large for it. They are already paying that for the crappy A4s with the 4 cyl engines. This at least looks the part of a car costing that much.
rascal99 says:
06:19 PM, 05/23/09
I drive one of those "crappy" A4's with the 2.0t and I didn't pay anywhere near $40k. $29.7k out the door new. For that it is a damn good car. $40K for the 2.0t is too much though.
rascal99 says:
06:22 PM, 05/23/09
BTW, get used to smaller displacement engines wiht big price tags. Fuel economy will be king going forward and we will need to adjust our thinking. Small turbo engines in pricey cars is the norm (i.e. acceptable) in Europe and other parts of the world.
flwind says:
08:10 AM, 07/14/09
rascal99-Nothing wrong with small displacement engines, I love them. That being said, small displacement engines, need to come with small displacement price tags. Charging 40 grand for a 4 cylinder car with anything less than 300hp is crazy. Paying more for less car is plain stupid, i don't care if that is the norm in Europe. Besides, if you can afford a $40k car, then you certainly can afford $4 gas and if you cant, then you have no business driving a car that expensive..