Volkswagen Scirocco II GTI 1.6
The second Scirocco was roomier and more rounded than the first, yet its launch GTI kept a high-revving 110 PS 1.6-litre engine.
1981 Volkswagen Scirocco GT (10962927453).jpg · Niels de Wit from Lunteren, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0
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More than a set of wheels.
Volkswagen stretched and rounded the Scirocco for its second generation while keeping the compact front-wheel-drive layout and Karmann production. The new body was about 20 centimetres longer, offered more passenger room and cut aerodynamic drag. At launch, the fastest engine was the injected 1.6 GTI with 110 PS, giving a quoted 191 km/h top speed.
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Its spoiler sat halfway up the rear glass instead of on the roof or at the bottom of the hatch.
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More space without a new mechanical idea
The Scirocco II kept the transverse front engine, front-wheel drive and 2,400 mm wheelbase, but reshaped the body around them. Curved side panels created more usable width, the roof gave better headroom and the longer body made more room for luggage.
Source: Volkswagen Newsroom · Scirocco II (1981–1992) ↗Lower drag, higher speed, extra mass
Volkswagen says the second body had a ten-percent lower drag coefficient than the angular first generation. That helped the 110 PS GTI reach 191 km/h instead of its predecessor's 185 km/h, although almost 100 kg of extra weight made acceleration a few tenths slower.
Source: Volkswagen Newsroom · Scirocco II (1981–1992) ↗Where these facts come from
- Volkswagen Newsroom · Scirocco II (1981–1992)
- Volkswagen Newsroom · Vehicle data Scirocco II profile
- Volkswagen Newsroom · Engine versions Scirocco II profile
- Wikimedia Commons · 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco GT
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-01.