Volkswagen Scirocco I / II (1974–1992)

De Volkswagen Scirocco was a sports coupé that was built from 1974 by the Karmann family in Osnabrück based on a design commissioned by Volkswagen. The second generation of the Scirocco came onto the market in 1982. The name of the model is derived from the name of a Mediterranean wind.

1976 Volkswagen Scirocco

History and background

The Volkswagen Scirocco appeared in 1974 and was intended as a sporty alternative to the tame Volkswagen Golf. In fact, it even came onto the market just before the Golf, as a preview of Volkswagen's new front-wheel-drive future. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and built by Karmann, the Scirocco was everything Volkswagen had not been up until then: low, sporty, and a tad headstrong.

The first generation (Mk1) was an immediate success, and in 1981 the larger and rounder Mk2 followed, which offered more comfort but lost some of the sharpness of its predecessor. After 1992, the Scirocco disappeared from the scene, leaving a void for lovers of compact coupes. It was not until 2008 that the name returned with a third generation, based on the Golf but with a much sportier character. Yet, it is primarily the classic Scirocco from the seventies and eighties that remains beloved: light, direct, and wonderfully pure.

Design and interior

The design of the Scirocco was one of its greatest assets. The first generation had a sleek, angular design with sharp lines and a low roofline, typical of Giugiaro. It was a car that looked fast, even when standing still. The Mk2 became slightly rounder and more practical, with more interior space and a larger tailgate, but remained clearly recognizable as a Scirocco.

Dashboard of the first series Scirocco

Inside, the interior was sportier than that of the Golf, with a lower seating position and a more driver-oriented dashboard. The finish was solid, as you would expect from Volkswagen, but with just a bit more flair. Later versions offered sports seats, extra gauges, and other details that emphasized the sporty character. No luxury excess, but just enough to give the feeling that you were driving something special.

first generation

The first generation appeared in the early 1970s and was designed by the Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign. The Scirocco I went on sale in Europe in 1974 and in North America in 1975 as the successor to the Karmann Ghia. The Scirocco used the same chassis as the Volkswagen Golf I and Volkswagen Jetta, the Volkswagen A1 platform. Internally, the model was designated “Typ 53”. The car was front-wheel driven by a four-cylinder engine with a displacement ranging from 1.1 liters to 1.6 liters (the GTi version).

The Type I underwent minor changes, such as the switch from double to single windscreen wipers in 1978 and new plastic bumpers replacing the chrome versions. The separate side turn signal was also integrated into a front cornering light unit with an upgrade. The fastest version was the GTI, with 110 hp, which could complete the sprint to 100 km/h in 10 seconds and had a top speed of around 186 km/h.

1976 Volkswagen Scirocco

Second generation Scirocco

The second generation was a significant redesign of the model and was internally designated the Typ 53B. The model retained the A1 platform as its basis and was also built by Karmann, but this time it was designed by Herbert Schäfer of Volkswagen's design department. This model featured more headroom in both the front and rear, more luggage space, and improved aerodynamics. A striking feature was the rear spoiler mounted halfway up the rear window.

1987 Volkswagen Scirocco

In 1984, the model received an update in which the brand name outline disappeared from under the tailgate and a few technical adjustments were implemented. Midway through that same year, leather interiors, electric windows and mirrors, air conditioning, and a sunroof became available as options on all versions. Dual windscreen wipers also returned, and the model was available with no fewer than 11 different engines, ranging from a 1,3-liter with 60 hp to a 1,8-liter with 139 hp. Work was also underway on a 1,7-liter turbo engine. This car produced 180 hp and had a top speed of 223 kilometers per hour. However, a disadvantage was the fuel consumption of 1 liter per 7,2 kilometers. Development of the Scirocco Turbo was discontinued in favor of the 16v and G-Lader engines.

Special edition White Cat

The second series of the Scirocco also received a number of special editions such as the White Cat, the Tropical, and the Storm (UK). These versions featured special color combinations for the upholstery and paintwork, special wheels, and certain options as standard, such as a leather interior or electric windows. The Scirocco was eventually succeeded by the volkswagen corradoAfter a long break, a third generation was also built between 2008 and 2017.

Top Model

The top model varies by generation, but the modern Scirocco R is the most powerful. It features a 2.0 TSI engine with 280 hp and 350 Nm of torque. This allows it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 5,5 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/h (limited). For a compact coupé, that is seriously fast – and a worthy successor to the sporty DNA of the original Scirocco.

Competitors

The Scirocco had to compete against cars such as the Opel Manta, Ford Capri, and later the Toyota Celica and Hyundai Coupé. In modern times, the competitors were more hot hatches and compact coupés.

Successor model

The Scirocco Mk1 was actually intended as a sporty eye-catcher to introduce the new Golf technology – and it worked. Many people fell for the Scirocco first and only discovered the Golf afterwards. And let's be honest: if you had to choose between a tame hatchback and a low, sleek coupé in the seventies… you basically already knew.

After the Mk3 was discontinued in 2017, there was no direct successor. Volkswagen abandoned the concept of a compact sports coupe once again, causing the Scirocco to achieve a kind of cult status once more.