Volkswagen is contemplating the revival of its iconic Scirocco sports coupe, this time as an electric vehicle (EV). The brand is actively reviewing internal design, engineering, and manufacturing proposals for the return of Scirocco, envisioning it with 1970s-inspired styling and potentially featuring a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive R flagship.
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The revival of Scirocco is part of a broader sports car project under discussion, which includes a potential fourth-generation Porsche Boxster/Cayman, a production version of the Cupra Dark Rebel coupe concept, and a fourth-generation Audi TT, according to insiders. If granted production approval by Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schafer, the electric Scirocco could hit the market by 2028.
Positioned above the second-generation ID 3 hatchback, which is set to adopt the Golf name, the envisioned Scirocco would complement a restyled ninth-generation version of the combustion-engined Golf hatchback in 2027.
Platform and Powertrain:
While the electric Golf will utilize Volkswagen's new SSP platform, the proposed Scirocco EV is expected to be based on a specially adapted version of the PPE platform developed for the new Boxster/Cayman. This platform is designed exclusively for electric power and offers flexibility in wheelbase lengths, track widths, and supports single-motor, rear-wheel-drive, and dual-motor, four-wheel-drive layouts.
The new platform prioritizes a low-slung silhouette with low door sills and floor height, crucial for a sports car aesthetic. This is achieved by placing the battery within the center tunnel and behind the cabin, following the mid-engined layout of previous Boxsters. Porsche refers to this platform as E-Core, previewed by the Mission R concept car in 2021.
While the new Boxster and Dark Rebel will feature two-seat interiors, the Scirocco and TT successors are expected to have longer wheelbases. The Scirocco EV is projected to start with around 300 horsepower in a single-motor configuration and could reach over 400 horsepower in a dual-motor setup, serving as a successor to the Scirocco R, which featured a turbo four-cylinder engine from 2009 to 2017.
The decision on the production location for the new Scirocco is pending, with one possibility being the former Karmann factory in Osnabruck, Germany, where the original Scirocco was initially created.
This revival of the Scirocco comes as part of Volkswagen Group's strategy to achieve greater economies of scale for new volume-selling models, driven by the vision of newly appointed Chairman Oliver Blume.
In summary, Volkswagen is exploring the prospect of bringing back the Scirocco as an electric sports coupe, combining heritage-inspired design with modern EV technology, aiming to capture the spirit of the iconic model in a new electrified era.