SPECULATION: VW to Add Scirocco Convertible

Closely resembling the IROC concept shown at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, the new sports car from Wolfsburg will get dulled down with the usual government mandated bumpers and lights which are still hiding under the test car’s camouflage. However, more interesting is the chassis of the new two door Scirocco coupe. Based on the Passat PQ46 platform, the VW Eos coupe-convertible (CC) sets the basis for the Scirocco. Therefore, our sources speculate VW is about to add a convertible version to the Scirocco coupe.

With such a vehicle, Volkswagen would be following the current trend to add a CC version to the standard coupe model, like Audi did with the TT or BMW with the E93 3-Series. The Scirocco Cabriolet could also steal sales away from the Porsche Boxster as a less expensive alternative, assuming more powerful engines (mentioned below) get added but perhaps not since Porsche takeover of VW is iminent.

The new Scirocco Coupe looks low and wide in these photos, and makes a good impression despite the camouflage. Engines will be both petrol and diesel, with the 1.4-liter 140hp petrol unit as the entry model. The strong 200hp 2.0-liter turbo engine from the Golf GTI will be the top engine from the beginning, followed by a hotter version producing 230-240hp later on. Hopefully, there will be an R version with all-wheel-drive and more power. The most powerful diesel engine will be the new 2.0 liter common-rail delivering 170hp. The interior is looking a lot like the EOS, but hopes are high for a sportier look.

The Scirocco Coupe’s market release is scheduled for 2008, while the CC could be out a year later.

The photos are showing a prototype during recent testing in the US plus one computer rendering of the coupe and another computer rendering of how the CC with the top down could look like.