2008 Volkswagen Scirocco

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What is it?
2008 Volkswagen Scirocco

What's special about it?
According to VW, the new 2008 Volkswagen Scirocco has been designed as a pure sports car. So forget for a moment that it's essentially a rebodied GTI. And disregard the fact that instead of a sloping hatchback like its predecessor, this Scirocco has a more traditional square back like, uh, the GTI.

This Volkswagen Scirocco has more aggressive, sports car-style dimensions than the GTI, though. Compare them side by side and the Scirocco is nearly 2 inches longer, 2 inches wider and 3 inches lower, despite riding on the same 101.5-inch wheelbase. Its lines exaggerate the differences, as the upturned window line and low roof make the Scirocco look like a faster car than the GTI.

It might turn out to be faster than the GTI, but not by much. The Scirocco will offer four different engines under the hood: three direct-injection inline-4s that burn gas, plus a TDI diesel. The three gas engines make 120, 158 and 197 horsepower respectively, while the turbodiesel serves up 236 pound-feet of torque.

All four engines run through the GTI's standard six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, but the 158-hp engine will offer an optional seven-speed DSG setup. Details on the suspension setup are sparse, but the Scirocco will offer "adaptive chassis control," a driver-adjustable setup that coordinates the damping control with the electro-mechanical steering.

Inside, the Scirocco is set up for a driver and three passengers. Both of the front seats are height adjustable and the rear seats feature deep contouring that makes them look like two distinct bucket seats. The rear seats still fold down, however, and there are a respectable 26.7 cubic feet of space when both are laid flat.

The dash design is carried over directly from the GTI, although the Scirocco gets gauges with unique white illumination. A CD changer is standard, while the top-of-the-line navigation system adds a 30GB hard drive.

If all this sounds like the kind of Scirocco you would want to own, send a letter to Volkswagen saying so. As of right now, there are no plans to sell the Scirocco in the U.S., and barring any wild swings in the value of the U.S. dollar (or a large scale write-in campaign), the plan isn't likely to change. Executives at Volkswagen's U.S. arm feel this car is just too close to the GTI to find a niche, so unless the German side decides to send them over, this will be your best look at Volkswagen's latest "sports car."

What's Edmunds' take?
Would it be nice to have the Scirocco in the U.S.? Certainly. Would it be worth paying $30K for? Not really. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line