| The world's fourth largest car producer after GM, | | | | people used to seeing from Volkswagen, displays a |
| Toyota and Ford, Volkswagen will make its 2009 | | | | combination of plastic and brushed aluminum, with the |
| Scirocco available by Fall 2008. The Iroc, shorter name | | | | air vents mimicking the shape of the new coupe's |
| for Scirocco, concept gives a strong hint about the | | | | arresting grille. A thick-rimmed three-spoke steering |
| direction of the upcoming Scirocco -- even taking its | | | | wheel, with shift paddles for the DSG gearbox, has a |
| moniker from the middle four letters of the production | | | | highly technical look that is shared by the instrument |
| model's name. Wrapped in an arresting three-door | | | | panel and switchgear. Underpinning the Iroc is a lightly |
| hatchback body, the Iroc portends a wave of new | | | | modified version of Volkswagen's PQ35 |
| high-volume models. Volkswagen is banking on the | | | | front-wheel-drive platform as used in the Golf and a |
| new models to haul it back to financial health after its | | | | whole range of models from Audi, Seat, Skoda and |
| costly move into the luxury ranks with cars like the | | | | Volkswagen. As expected there are the excellent |
| Touareg and the Phaeton. Created in-house under the | | | | Volkswagen parts: suspension is via MacPherson |
| direction of Volkswagen's chief designer, Murat Gunak, | | | | struts up front and multilinks at the rear, with the Iroc |
| the Iroc eschews the retro route previously traveled | | | | hunkered low over 235/35 rubber on towering 19-inch |
| by VW with its New Beetle and stillborn Microbus | | | | alloy wheels. The steering relies on electrohydraulic |
| concept. Instead, the Iroc's design relies on | | | | assistance. Volkswagen isn't giving too much away |
| contemporary styling that's said to provide solid hints | | | | about the Iroc's four-cylinder engine, except to say the |
| about other future Volkswagen models. Central to the | | | | supercharged and turbocharged direct-injection |
| exterior appearance is a gaping single-frame grille | | | | Twincharger unit produces 210 hp. Sources suggest to |
| finished in brushed aluminum, giving the new car plenty | | | | Inside Line that it is the same 1.4-liter unit that powers |
| of presence and a certain Audi-esque allure. Further | | | | the Golf GT, with added boost pressure to increase |
| refinement will be carried out, but the proportions are | | | | power by 40 hp. With a projected curb weight of |
| said to mirror those of the production car. The Iroc is | | | | about 1350 kg, or just less than 3000 pounds, |
| 166.9 inches in length, 70.8 inches in width and 55.1 | | | | 0-60-mph acceleration should be around 7 seconds, |
| inches in height, similar to the dimensions of the Golf. | | | | with top speed likely to hit 150 mph. Other engines |
| The concept also sits on a long 104.6-inch wheelbase, | | | | under discussion for production versions of the new |
| offering seating for four adults and about 10.6 cubic | | | | coupe include a 240-hp version of the Golf GTi's |
| feet of luggage space. Inside, Volkswagen serves up | | | | turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, along with the new |
| a dramatic-looking cabin with styling links to the | | | | 280-hp 3.6-liter V6 found in the North American |
| Concept A unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show back | | | | market's top-end Passat -- the latter in combination |
| in February. The dashboard, more minimalist than | | | | with Volkswagen's 4Motion four-wheel-drive system. |