Scirocco named ‘Car of the Year’ in Topgear.com awards

Volkswagen’s new Scirocco has been named ‘Car of the Year 2008’ by Top Gear.

The judging panel was made up of members of the road test team and journalists from Top Gear magazine, the country’s biggest selling motoring and most widely read men’s magazine, and topgear.com which boasts two million unique users a month.

Chris Craft, Director of Volkswagen UK, commented: ‘The Scirocco has received a fantastic reception since its launch earlier this year and to be named Car of the Year by such a tough and well-respected group of judges is a real honour.’

Equipped with a powerful and efficient 2.0-litre TSI engine producing 200 PS, the new Scirocco is the most technically advanced production coupé that Volkswagen has produced. All models benefit from Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) which operates via a set of four electrically adjustable dampers to alter the car’s suspension, steering and throttle response set-up, and allows the driver to choose the most appropriate setting for the journey.

This system particularly impressed the judges with them explaining, in the Awards issue of Top Gear magazine: ‘The standard ACC system allows you to swap between soft and scythe at the touch of the button, giving you a spread of abilities far beyond what we’ve come to expect from the average car.’

In summing up the Scirocco’s success, Top Gear magazine explained: ‘Amongst the mega-machinery that makes up a lot of the Top Gear Awards, we’re celebrating something truly unique: a common man’s exotic. The Scirocco is a car we can understand, appreciate and afford.’

Prices for the Scirocco start at £18,790 (RRP on the road) for the recently introduced 1.4-litre TSI with 160 PS. For the first time in the coupé, a diesel engine in the form of the advanced 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS common rail unit is also now available for ordering. For more details on the Scirocco visit volkswagen.co.uk