VIDEO: 627 hp VW Scirocco + Sweden and Snow = Awesome!

You probably think Sweden is all about IKEA, ABBA and Volvos. Of course you do because, like me, you base all your cultural assumptions on asinine, outmoded stereotypes. Though few would be so willing to admit it, we�ve all done it from time to time, mostly when drunk off our backsides around the family barbie.

So what if I told you the Swedes � well, a few of them anyways � were big into racing stripped out, turbocharged Volkswagen Scirocco�s packing AWD and 627 hp (468 kW)? And not simply racing them but racing them on snow and ice. You heard right, and we have the video to prove it.

Sadly, we don�t know much more about the car and its driver than what we�ve given so far; our Swedish isn�t even as good as our grammatically flawed German and poorly enunciated French. Still, it�s a fun video to watch, and the sonorous sound of the turbo gives me goosebumps all down my back.

Check out the video and leave your comments in the section provided below.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Bilsport via Autoholics

VIDEO

Volkswagen Reconsidering Scirocco and Phaeton for the U.S. Market

Earlier this month, Volkswagen announced that it�s going to expand its North American SUV lineup in order to catch up to GM and Toyota and triple its U.S. sales by 2018. However, the automaker also wants to boost its image, so it may bring back the Scirocco coupe and Phaeton sedan to the States.

In an interview in Washington, Jonathan Browning, head of Volkswagen�s U.S. operations, told Bloomberg News that the company is exploring the idea of selling the two models in the U.S. �We will reconsider bringing the Phaeton back to the U.S. in the next product cycle,� said Mr. Browning who added that no final decision has been made yet.

While not a bad car, the Phaeton had a short-lived career in the U.S., which ended in 2006. It seems that American buyers just couldn�t get used to the idea of a Mercedes S-Class rival with a Volkswagen badge. On the other hand, the Scirocco was successful in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s, so to this day, many are wondering why VW chose not to import the latest generation of the coupe model. In Europe, the Scirocco is offered with a variety of powertrains ranging from a 52.3 mpg 140HP diesel to a 265HP 2.0-liter turbo in the sporty 'R' model.

The Scirocco and Phaeton are not expected to offer a lot in terms of sales, but rather to provide an image boost for the company. The real �earners� will have to be models such as the new Jetta and Passat.

�VW wants to capture U.S. buyers by rolling out more emotional cars and the Scirocco certainly fits that category,� said Frank Schwope, a NordLB analyst in Hanover. �In terms of volume sales, the Scirocco and Phaeton are only decorative accents, they won�t be crucial for VW�s goal to greatly increase deliveries�.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Bloomberg

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New VW Scirocco BlueMotion returns 62.8 mpg UK

Volkswagen is upping the fuel economy ante in the UK with the presentation of new Scirocco and Passat CC diesel range that benefit from the firm's BlueMotion Technology.

Starting with VW's proposal in the compact coupe segment, all entry-level and GT trim models with the 2.0-litre 140HP diesel engine now feature BlueMotion Technology modifications, which include Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems, thus helping to create the cleanest and most fuel efficient Scirocco to date.

When combined with a six speed manual gearbox, fuel economy on the Scirocco 2.0 TDI 140HP is improved from 55.4 mpg to 62.8 mpg UK on the combined cycle (51.4 to 57.6 DSG), while CO2 emissions drop down from 134 g/km to 118 g/km (145 to 129 DSG).

The German company also announced updates to the more powerful 2.0-litre TDI 170HP engine fitted to the Scirocco GT. These changes result in fuel economy figures improving from 53.3 mpg to 55.4 mpg UK for the manual gearbox model (50.4 to 51.4 DSG) and CO2 emissions reducing from 139 to 134 g/km (147 to 144 for DSG) .

The Passat CC line-up also sees BlueMotion Technology models with regenerative braking and Start/Stop systems replacing existing diesel versions. The updates help the 2.0-litre TDI 140HP Passat CC achieve a combined 60.1 mpg UK, up from 50.4, while CO2 emissions are reduced to 125 g/km, down from 146 g/km.

The 170HP version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine also boasts improved figures with fuel economy up to 57.6 mpg UK (51.4 DSG) and emissions down to 129 g/km (144 DSG).

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VW Scirocco R: Now with Optional Racing Bucket Seats

Further twisting the knife on American buyers who can't get the Scirocco R on this side of the pond, Volkswagen today announced the introduction of race car-like bucket seats for the driver and front passenger.

The delicious-looking body huggers get seat sides and headrest trimmed in "Vienna" leather with the central parts clad in "San Remo" micro fiber. In addition, the seat back is painted in a glossy black finish, while the R logo is placed on the integrated head restraint.

The price for having your tushies treated like motorsports stars [in Germany] is �3,180 or about US$ 4,400 at today's exchange rates.

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