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See the new Volkswagen coupé in detail, inside and... Watch Video

To be fair, having seen this vid, it doesn't actually look as bad as I first thought.

The front is still pretty plain, strikes me as very similar to the Civic Saloon.  But the rest of the car is nicely curvy and muscular.

 

The front-end looks truly dull - why drop the concept's cool snout?. I wonder, has VW's owner, Porsche, hobbled the car's looks so that well-specced Sciroccos don't steal sales from the base Cayman? Apparently, a similar thing happened to the current Jag XK's front-end - the original design was very cool-looking twin-headlights with a slimmer grille - but the XK's overall styling was then deemed too much of a DB9 rival by Ford and Aston high-ups. Hence, the XK's nose resembles a 'gasping fish'.

6th.replicant:

but the XK's overall styling was then deemed too much of a DB9 rival by Ford and Aston high-ups. Hence, the XK's nose resembles a 'gasping fish'.

Once the decision was made to sell Aston Martin, did Jaguar not have time left to change the front end styling back before launch? Aston Martin went in March last year. Ford must have known bit earler than this, say back-end of 2006. Do you think Jaguar had frozen the design by then? Agree that concept car's front-end infintely better than production car's.

I am so disappointed!

I was sure this was to be my next car.

The front end of the IROC is glorious, the Scirocco is dull in compasrison. Where is the interior that caught my eye? The IROC steering wheel  was a work of art - in my opinion anyway - but now its just a Golf inside right down to the dull headlight switch. Are we to wonder if the same scratchy crappy plastic that now adorns the Golf is to be present in such abundance in the new Sirocco.

I am no longer excited. VW you have let me down again! My Golf V rattles and squeaks more than my 1989 205GTi.

Hey why dont I buy a Corrado? I remember that it was fine looking/sounding car.

VW should swallow their pride and admit they need Giugiaro or Ghia to style the Scirocco.  The team that 'styled' the Passat and the Golf stand no chance of making something desirable.

And for Got's sake, please don't offer a diesel version. Yes, it may be more sensible, but surely that isn't the point...

It really isn't great at all. There's no sense of inspiration to the design. Why would anyone WANT one? It looks like a flattened VW Fox!

I think I actually prefer it to the concept. That puts me in a minority of one. I remember my 1984 Scirocco very fondly.

I prefer the 1984 Scirocco. If I could get my hands on the b******d who robbed my '89 GT last year....

Still, wouldn't say no to one of these... but only if I could have it in the concept car's evil green colour >:)
 

As an owner of an original 1980 mk1 scirocco, I awaited the launch of the new model with anticipation.

The early concept drawings about 2 year ago (red car) were promising with a chunky purposeful styling that evoked the mk1 with a bit of Corrado styling thrown in too. The green IROC concept last year scared me as it was completely different and ghastly IMO, looking very Japanese influenced.

The production model has taken the ghastly Iroc concept and added a bland front end - very disappointing  - the car looks far too much like a rounded off Astra VXR for my liking.

As a current Seat Leon Cupra R (mk1) owner I was hoping for a killer looking car based on the mk5 platform. Looks like it'll never happen now... :(

Got to say the IROC rocked, this actual example rolls. Nowhere near as good as it could have been (in the exterior looks department).

Based on Golf under pinnings though it has to have a fighting chance of being a good car to drive.

Can't help thinking though that VW have dropped the baton.

stewbie:

The green IROC concept last year scared me as it was completely different and ghastly IMO, looking very Japanese influenced.

 

I completely agree the iroc looked very japanese. Although I was initially impressed, I think it was a design that would have grown old very quickly, especially when a few thousand appeared on the roads.

I admit the finished product is a little bland, but I think it is actually better looking than the iroc. I see this car selling very well, and its good to see VW have something resembling a coupe on the market after such a long break.

Would still take an old porsche instead though!