Introduction Beefy design, sporty stance and, depending on the colour, mean looking. Bringing back an iconic car is never easy, but VW has succeeded with this second generation model. This is a tasty looking coupe that goes toe-to-toe with more powerful cars and the raucous exhaust note is a great accompaniment. Rivals for the Scirocco R include the Golf R, from its own VW group stable, the SEAT Leon Cupra R and the current class-leading Renault Megane Renaultsport.Performance 4.0/5 The Scirocco feels quick. Prod the right foot on the accelerator and you get an instant shove from the 261bhp 2.0-litre turbo. It will pip the SEAT Leon Cupra R to 62mph from a standing start by 0.4 of a second and it has a top speed of 155mph.Ride & Handling 4.0/5 After driving the Scirocco R you will be smiling from ear to ear. It really is that good. Our test car was mated to the six-speed DSG semi-automatic gearbox. The paddle-shifters are good fun but purists will prefer a floor mounted manual shifter.The R is fast and handles the twisty stuff brilliantly. Levels of feedback from the steering wheel are good while the rack is quick and accurate. The Scirocco sits low to the ground, meaning that there is very little bodyroll. It also feels well planted, although in the wet it can become a little bit lively when exiting bends. Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) is one of the highlights on the Scirocco R. Coupes need to be able to mix comfort with sportiness and the boffins have found a way of doing this by adding the ACC system. You can choose three modes when driving, ‘Normal’, ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’. The sensors constantly measure the vehicle’s behaviour – whether it is braking, acceleration or cornering to ensure that the driver gets the optimum mix. Enthusiastic drivers will enjoy the Sport mode, but it is a joy to drive in Comfort mode when pootling around town.Equipment 4.0/5 Plenty of kit comes as standard on the VW Scirocco R. Highlights include XDS electronic differential lock, ‘R’ sports suspension, 18-inch alloys, bi-xenon headlights, 'R' styling pack, twin exhausts, the Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) system and a touschscreen multimedia device.Running Costs 4.0/5 The Scirocco R averages an impressive claimed 35.3mpg – that’s identical to one of its main rivals, the SEAT Leon Cupra R. The R is no friend to the planet, it emits 187g/km of CO2. Servicing and consumables can be more expensive than rivals, while the insurance grouping for the R is 34 E. Motortorque Verdict 4.0/5 The R is the hottest model in the Scirocco line-up. With its rakish lines and throaty soundtrack, the R is one of the best coupes around.
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