Scirocco: More than just a GTI in drag?
The VW Scirocco has been named Car of the Year at the Top Gear Awards. The reborn coupe scooped the top prize in the magazine’s annual awards because it was ‘fun, stylish and above all, almost affordable.’ The judges added: ‘This is one for us people. Rejoice.’
Other award winners in this year’s roll of honour included: The Dodge Challenger as Muscle Car of the Year, the Citroen Picasso as Family Car of the Year, The Honda FCX Clarity winning the inaugural Green Car of the Year and General Motors receiving some welcome good news with the Corvette ZR1 being named Performance Car of the Year. There was a double triumph for Lamborghini with the Gallardo LP560-4 winning Supercar of the Year and Stephan Winkelman, the company’s president and CEO being named The Top Gear.com Man of the Year.
Speaking of the Scirocco, back after a 16 year absence, the judges said: ‘Sometimes you forget just how exciting Volkswagen can be. Despite feeling like a VW in every sense, the Scirocco manages to distill out the best bits of the GTI and make something...else. Something special. We’re celebrating something truly unique in the Scirocco: a common man’s exotic. This is a car we can understand, we can appreciate, we can afford.’
Despite American cars struggling in the past to cut it with the best that Europe can offer, the Corvette ZR1was named Performance Car of the Year. The judges said: ‘If the grandson of a Kenyan goat-herder can become President, why shouldn’t General Motors build a sports car that can rival the Europeans?’ Meanwhile Chrysler’s 6.1-litre Dodge Challenger was only just pipped at the post by the VW Scirocco as overall Car of the Year.
According to Top Gear editor Michael Harvey: ‘The Challenger is a deeply beautiful object, possessed of a surface and silhouette that would grace any car. That it so viscerally evokes the original compounds the magic. It’s magnificent.’ Lewis Hamilton’s triumphant Formula One year was recognised with the McLaren M4-23 being named Racing Car of the Year.
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