Volkswagen will travel all the way to the Shanghai Motor Show to introduce the heritage-laced 2015 Scirocco GTS. The GTS is a mid-range model positioned between the 2.0 TSI and the range-topping 276-horsepower Scirocco R.
Building on the TSI, the GTS model gains red brake calipers visible through 18-inch Norwich alloy wheels and a R-Line appearance package that adds a deep front bumper, fog lights, a gloss black radiator grille, side skirts, a roof-mounted spoiler and a small air diffuser integrated into the rear bumper. GTS logos on both ends add a finishing touch to the overall look, while racing strips that run from the tip of the hood to the bottom of the hatch can be ordered at an extra cost.
The sporty treatment continues inside the cabin with a thick-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel, stainless steel pedals and red contrast stitching on the arm rest, the seats and the shift boot. A golf ball-shaped shift knob creates a visual link between the 21st century GTS and the original model that was introduced in 1982 while hinting at the coupe’s GTI-sourced turbo four.
Volkswagen’s touch screen-based Composition Color infotainment system comes standard, and the list of options includes a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, bi-xenon headlights and navigation.
Under the hood, the GTS packs a turbocharged 2.o-liter TSI four-cylinder engine that makes 220 horsepower, a 10-pony bump over the outgoing last-gen GTS. Pulled out of the GTI parts bin, the direct-injected turbo four sends the coupe from zero to 62 mph in 6.4 seconds and on to an Autobahn-worthy top speed of 152 mph. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard, and buyers who prefer steering wheel-mounted paddles can order a six-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox at an extra cost.
The 2015 Volkswagen Scirocco GTS will join the Volkswagen family in Europe and in China shortly after greeting the show-going public in Shanghai. Volkswagen has not revealed how much of a premium the GTS will carry over a standard Scirocco TSI.
