Friday 23rd May 2008

'Rocco Hard

New VW Scirocco is a racer for the road

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On the back of the Scirocco GT24 racer that VW is to enter into the Nurburgring 24-hour race this weekend, the company has shocked fans by rolling out a road-going version.

The Scirocco GT24 Concept was wheeled out at the annual Wörthersee Festival in Austria and although it is very closely linked to the race car it is in fact road legal.

VW is remaining tight-lipped on whether there will be production versions of the GT24 Concept, perhaps as a track day weapon like the Aston Martin N24, but insiders have said it could be a nod towards an R version of the new coupe.

At the heart of the concept is a race-tuned 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI engine developing 296 bhp at 6,500 rpm. 

This is mated to a six-speed DSG gearbox which channels drive to the front wheels. 

The gearbox features uprated clutch plates along with revised gear ratios and a lightened flywheel linked to a differential lock.

VW says the car does use a lot of the road car’s components but is 178 kg lighter at 1,120 kg.

Inside the Scirocco GT24 the driver and front seat passenger are held securely in a pair of lightweight Recaro bucket seats by a set of five-point racing harnesses mounted within a rollcage. 

A unique steering wheel and electronic display are fitted, and set into a carbon panel are simple toggle switches which control the ABS settings and electrical and ventilation systems.

Outside there is a 227 mm gain in length and 61 mm gain in width to accommodate a wider track.  Lowered, adjustable race damper units account for a 75 mm drop in ride height on a set of 18-inch lightweight racing wheels housing 362 mm (255 mm at the rear) racing brake discs clamped by six-piston callipers.

[FrancisBZG]

Another decent car turned into a stty hatchback.

[Erijaso]

Can't see any pictures?

Now I can.

G

Edited by Erijaso on Friday 23 May 11:07

[layabout]

Not too sure about the fat Golf style look of the car,The previous Scirocco was more of an individual car.I remember when i was a child, my dad had one of the first Scirocco's in the country,so i will always have a soft spot for the original.

[OperationAlfa]

That rear wing looks awful.

[DamoLLb]

Having no experience with a flat bottomed wheel ( which VAG seem to be putting in all of their top sporting models) can anybody tell me if these are of any use? Perhaps in a racing car with 0.5 turns lock to lock, are they any good in road cars?

[RJDM3]

FrancisBZG said:

Another decent car turned into a stty hatchback.

Like the original was nice looking??? and any good in the first place....please..

[layabout]

RJDM3 said:

FrancisBZG said:

Another decent car turned into a stty hatchback.

Like the original was nice looking??? and any good in the first place....please..

They were good looking & desirable cars in their day.

[BUG4LIFE]

I do like the new grille and mean looking headlights of the new Rocco [I was so disappointed how the road version of the Jag XF turned out, with it's huge headlights, after the concept looked well aggressive]. It's just a pity the back end is a bit of a mess and it's not more 'coupe' like.

[Nuova500]

Want....

[layabout]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f... It has to be the original for me.

[ALfooy]

i must admit that the new 'Rocco' has grown on me, but this looks the mutts nutts, really can't wait to to see if they do develop this more and make an R version

[tegwin]

Loose the wing...but yes...yes...I want one...where do I put my name down?

[HazT]

Am I the only one who thinks this is strangely good looking inside and out, spoiler included?

I do hope they make a slightly less track orientated version, for the road, with the same style.

[Mroad]

BUG4LIFE said:

I do like the new grille and mean looking headlights of the new Rocco [I was so disappointed how the road version of the Jag XF turned out, with it's huge headlights, after the concept looked well aggressive]. It's just a pity the back end is a bit of a mess and it's not more 'coupe' like.

The front of the new Golf will apparently feature the same front end design as the Rocco and I assume most other VW's will go the same way, looks good.
Then again if the new Golf will look similar why bother with the Rocco? I like the Rocco but it's not different enough to the Golf.

[morgrp]

Ditch the stickers, that Halfords spoiler and the white wheels then we'll talk...

[Tahiti]

I like. I want.

[VladD]

This is what the Golf should look like and the Scirocco should be more of a coupe.

[morgrp]

Does anyone remember a concept version of the MK2 Polo produced in the 80's - Can't for the life of me remember what it was called but i'm sure it was twin engined with G-laders and had 4WD - Anyone remember its name?

[GingerWizard]

Me likes. Me wants. (just another case example of how 185bhp out of a 2.2l engine is shocking Talking about the Alpha...)

[endorium]

absolutley amazing!!! I love this car. I love the wide arch kit and the interior looks fantastic. Would buy one tomorrow if they brought it out. Not sure about the wing for the road. I can see its use on the track though. Detachable wing for a road legal track day car?