The sporty Scirocco has been made sportier with a new GTS model – how much, and how fast?

The Volkswagen Scirocco and the GTI twins Polo and Golf are the sporty models in the VW line-up.  So is there room for a GTS-badged Scirocco?

What are the changes to Scirocco?

With Scirocco having received its facelift early this year (in January 2015) with the change to bigger headlights and some large red taillights.  The time has come, already, to spruce up the range again.

The base 1.4 TSI Highline model falls away, and the 2.0 TSI Sportline is replaced by the 2.0 TSI Highline, though the previous 155kW DSG auto drivetrain makes way for a 132kW output, and the re-introduction of the 2-litre manual.

So is the Scirocco GTS basically a GTI?

The focal point is the addition of the GTS as stand-alone model, rather than a GTS option pack on top of the previous 2.0 Sportline.  Here power is upped slightly from 155 to 162kW, but torque jumps from 280 to 350Nm.  You’re right – if you know the numbers of by heart, as any GTI enthusiast should, these numbers match the Golf 7 GTI outputs.  The GTS gets the GTI engine.  Yay!

How fast?  The 0-100 km/h is now at 6.5 seconds on the stopwatch, bettered from 6.9.  Here a 6-speed DSG gearbox is fitted, and is the best fit for the GTS.

While Volkswagen has had the Golf GTI for many years and then added a Polo GTI, the Scirocco has not had a GT-named model, despite being the only sports coupé from the VW brand.

The previous GTS option pack had very bold black and red fat sports stripes along the length of the sleek Scirocco, and even lipstick red mirror covers… which was maybe a bit too much for most Scirocco owners’ taste, and had no extra oomph.

The new Scirocco GTS has the extra oomph, and a more subtle black&red colour approach to sportiness, using GTS badging and red stripes on the seats, and red stitching galore (just like you’d find in a GTI).

So yes, the Scirocco GTS is basically a Scirocco GTI.  Why not call it a Scirocco GTI, then?  VW says the GTS name is revived, and all that marketing speak, but GTI is a brand (desirable) on its own.  With all the GTI fans out there, who wouldn’t want a Scirocco GTI?

The GTS model is all-new, while the Scirocco R continues with its gloss black theme and 188kW 350Nm engine.

How much for this VW sports coupé?

Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TSI 132kW Highline manual	R 369 900
Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TSI 162kW GTS DSG	R 439 900
Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TSI R DSG	R 494 200

     
To do a virtual build of the Scirocco you want to buy, go on the Build & Price link at vw.co.za