Overseas reports suggest production of the Volkswagen Scirocco R is on hold ahead of the introduction of a more powerful facelifted version early in 2014.
US publication Car and Driver reports Scirocco R production is in a state of limbo now that Volkswagen has wrapped up production of the car’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘EA113′ engine.
The updated Volkswagen Scirocco is tipped to debut at March’s Geneva motor show. While the 2014 model will essentially be a facelift of the five-year-old Golf Mk5-based coupe (pictured), the flagship Scirocco R – the only variant offered in Australia – is set to benefit from the new ‘EA888’ engine destined for the new Golf R Mk7 and already featured in the Audi S3.
The new turbocharged unit produces 221kW of power and 380Nm of torque in the all-wheel-drive Golf R in overseas markets, and the updated front-wheel-drive Scirocco R is expected to follow suit with identical outputs as it has in the past.
The engine is likely to be detuned to 206kW for Australia’s hot climate, however, as Audi has been forced to do with the recently launched S3.
Volkswagen Australia public relations manager Kurt McGuiness said there was no official word on timing or specifications of the updated Scirocco for our market. He also confirmed orders of the existing Scirocco R were continuing as normal at this stage.
Spy images captured earlier this year revealed a subtly revised headlight, grille and air intake design for the facelifted Scirocco, following the styling evolution demonstrated by its Golf sister car.
If the flagship Scirocco R debuts alongside the regular range in March as expected, it’s likely to reach Australian shores by the second half of 2014.
