VW is reportedly set to revive a popular model as a sporty EV based on the Porsche Boxster and with some retro ’70s styling.
The brand is said to be mulling over a return for the car, which made its debut in 1974, after it was discontinued in 2018.
SUPPLIEDThe VW Scirocco is reportedly set to make a comeback[/caption]
Taking its name from a hurricane-like gust that sweeps the Sahara, the Scirocco was VW’s crack at a sports/hatchback crossover.
The idea was to provide top-level performance in a more economical and less flashy package, as well as for a better price, than legacy names like Ferrari or Aston Martin.
And the concept enjoyed great success over its four-plus decade production run, before flagging sales eventually saw it killed off six years ago.
However, Autocar is now reporting that the manufacturer is considering proposals to bring the Scirocco back as an all-electric sports coupe.
According to the report, the new car will sit on the same platform as the electric Boxster produced by rival-turned-sister brand Porsche.
The suggestion is that the Scirocco could slot into the EV range above the already electric ID2, which will undergo a rebrand of its own when it adopts the Golf badge following the discontinuation of that iconic model’s petrol and diesel variants.
It is reportedly expected to receive a longer wheelbase than the Boxster, adding the potential for rear seats, while retaining its low-slung, two-door look.
The base model would apparently come with a single, 300-horsepower electric motor, while an R version is said to be planned boasting 400-horsepower across a dual-motor setup.
Andreas Mindt, VW’s new head of design, has previously referenced the original 1970’s Scirocco as the blueprint for how the brand’s cars should look, potentially giving an insight into the styling of the range going forward.
He said: “The Scirocco was among the first cars to use a sharp and low line to visually enhance the car and make it appear lower.
“It’s a stylistic trick to reduce volume and results in a more powerful and sporting stance.
“That’s the secret sauce that makes a car desirable, a stylish car that everyone wants to drive.”
The reported plans will now need approval from CEO Thomas Schafer ahead of a potential production run.
If approved, Autocar suggests that the car could arrive in UK showrooms in the next few years, as early as 2028.
It comes after a “traffic jam forest” of abandoned cars ditched by soldiers was discovered near a Belgian town.
VW declined to comment.