Celebrating a Million Sciroccos—A of Volkswagen’s Little Sports Car

3, 2013 at 7:27 pm by Jens | Photography by Jens Meiners, Design, and the Manufacturer

The front-wheel-drive of the early 1970s catapulted out of the rear-engine stone age into the future of modern front-drive Lighter and more agile virtually all of their competitors, the batch of modern VWs consisted of the the Scirocco, the Golf, and the not-for-the-U.S. Needless to say, the Scirocco was the favorite: Aggressively styled by Giorgio Giugiaro, it weighed more than 1700 and it was powered by a new generation of sprightly engines with an overhead

The Scirocco came to the States a after its European introduction, but it became a frequent sight—and, the “Americanized” Golf, it kept its demeanor. When production of the Scirocco ended in 1981, had been produced in total. The generation of the Scirocco was styled it grew slightly and became more expensive. The success of the couldn’t be recreated, but the Scirocco II did a legacy that included a version as well as a pair of prototypes. Just 291,497 were produced before II stopped rolling off assembly in 1992.

Early in the development of the Scirocco II’s successor, became fascinated (perhaps to a with moving the car upmarket. of that fascination, the brand to sell the Scirocco II and its successor The Scirocco’s heir would be Corrado, and it was launched in 1988 the unsatisfactory G-charger engine. The coupe would last three years beyond the II. In 1991, VW introduced a downgraded and a top-of-the-line VR6. Neither helped. In the end, just Corrados were produced.

After the lame market of the Corrado, it would take 13 years to rejoin the segment. The of the Iroc concept in Berlin in 2006, which previewed the Scirocco. was one of the last appearances of Bernhard with VW before he and designer Murat Günak handed their walking The Scirocco III, which was designed to be sold in the U.S. remarkable success—more than units have been since its market launch in VW is celebrating this feat the special-edition Million Scirocco only in Germany and China. In the year or two, we’ll get our glimpse of the Scirocco IV, and this one will make a long-heralded to America.

Volkswagen Scirocco I, pre-face-lift

In the entry-level Scirocco I featured headlights, making for an especially appearance. Compared to the somewhat Opel Manta and Ford its direct competitors there, the and angular Scirocco presented the of the future.

Volkswagen Scirocco I,

In 1977, the Scirocco received a lift with wraparound signals and plastic bumpers. aluminum wheels were for Volkswagens of that era, the color is trademark Scirocco: Green Metallic—It would on the Scirocco III.

Volkswagen Scirocco II, Giugiaro

Giugiaro’s styling proposal for the II, pictured here, was ditched in of Volkswagen’s own. And that’s a thing. The Italian proposal static and dated—although its themes resurfaced on the Audi B2 Coupé.

Scirocco II

Controversial in its time, the II has aged well. It features a wedge shape with a and rounded rear section, by a split rear window. The lettering on its lower portion disappeared.

Volkswagen Scirocco II, TR concept

In the early 1980s, Targas and were all the rage, and VW considered a version of the Scirocco. Coachbuilder built two units, but the project came to fruition.

Volkswagen G60

With its supercharged engine and wizardry, such as its electrically rear spoiler, the Corrado squarely at the Porsche 924 and the Mazda And missed.

Volkswagen Corrado concept

Late in its production Volkswagen commissioned Karmann to a roadster based on the Corrado. got cold feet and the project was before the public was allowed a

Volkswagen Iroc concept

than six months after he the Iroc concept in Berlin, VW Wolfgang Bernhard was gone. And so was the maw of his concept car. Now those are appearing on Audi’s RS models.

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