Reviews 4 Cars

The very first examples of the new Scirocco are set to be delivered to customers at Volkswagen retailers across the UK this week as the much-anticipated coupé makes its debut.

The acclaimed new Scirocco also marks the introduction of a new range of personal finance packages from Volkswagen Finance – making the new coupé even more affordable.

The Scirocco makes its return 34 years after the launch of the original Volkswagen coupé – of which over 77,000 examples were sold in the UK.

Equipped from launch with a powerful 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS engine linked to a choice of six-speed manual or DSG gearboxes the new Scirocco is fitted with six airbags as standard along with air-conditioning, a touchscreen CD stereo and Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) which allows the damping to alter to suit the road conditions.

Prices for the new Scirocco start at £20,940 fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, rising to £22,270 for the DSG-equipped vehicle.

Among the display of leisure vehicles and campers on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand at Europe’s largest recreational vehicle show that starts in Düsseldorf, Germany this weekend will be an interesting Caddy Topos Sail design concept which takes its nautical theme to the extreme of having a wooden boat deck on its roof.

The Caddy Topos Sail design concept, based on the smallest model in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle van range, uses design cues from classic yachts and has its multi-functional roof covered with wooden decking surrounded by aluminium roof rails.

The wooden sun deck on the roof is accessed via four matching wooden and aluminium steps in the Caddy’s tailgate, and to complete the design theme there are wooden inserts along the side of the vehicle and in the rear bumper.

Other highlights of the Volkswagen stand demonstrate its strong heritage in leisure vehicles with a celebration of 20 years of the California camper.

Volkswagen campers became popular almost as soon as the Transporter van was introduced in the 1950s, and the California model was introduced in 1988 when the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter was in production.

With California conversions of the subsequent fourth generation of Transporter van and today’s latest fifth generation model, more than 80,000 have been sold, which must make it one of the most successful campers ever.

Today’s California was introduced in 2006 and is unique as it is now made by Volkswagen, who must be the only vehicle manufacturer to produce its own camper.  It is built to the same high quality standards as the rest of the range, and sold with a full three year warranty.