First look: GT24 treatment graces Scirocco

THE Australian future of Volkswagen’s bristling new Scirocco sports hatch remains undecided, but that hasn’t stopped a wild new concept version dubbed the GT24 from being unveiled in front of VW fans at Austria’s annual Worthersee Festival.

The reveal of the Scirocco GT24 Concept, which looks as potent as its “race-tuned” 225kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI engine should make it, comes as three race-prepared, factory-entered Sciroccos prepare for this weekend’s Nurburgring 24-hour race.

First seen in concept guise at the 2006 Paris motor show (as the Alfa Brera-style Iroc show car) before making its production debut at the Geneva show in March, the Scirocco goes on sale in the major right-hand drive UK market in late August but is yet to be confirmed for sale by Volkswagen Group Australia.

The model that revives a nameplate not seen for 16 years may not grace local VW showrooms for the same reason it won’t be sold in the US: because it poses too much of a threat to sales of volume-selling models like the Golf GTI and R32.

To be available in Europe with the choice of 90kW FSI, 110kW 1.4-litre TSI and 147kW/280Nm 2.0-litre FSI engines, and both six-speed manual or DSG transmissions, the Golf/Eos-based front-drive Scirocco four-seater may also eventually become available with V6 power.

The Scirocco GT24 is claimed to be more than just a styling exercise. Based on the Scirocco racer, its kerb weight has been trimmed by some 178kg, to 1120kg, by Volkswagen Motorsport in Hanover.

Painted Volkswagen Racing Blue, the GT24 is not just lighter, but 227mm longer and 61mm wider to accommodate its wider wheel tracks. It is also 75mm lower and rides on adjustable race dampers and 18-inch lightweight alloy racing wheels wrapped around 362mm front (and 255mm rear) racing brake discs gripped by six-piston callipers.

Inside the rollcaged GT24 cabin there are two front Recaro bucket seats with five-point racing harnesses, a unique steering wheel, electronic display, fire extinguisher and carbon-fibre panel housing toggle switches for ABS settings and other electrical and ventilation systems.