What is it?
This is Volkswagen's high performance R version of the Scirocco. The coupe is visibly lower and wider than the standard car, and beneath the bonnet it gets a tweaked 2.0-litre TSI engine developing 261bhp and 258lb ft of torque.
Volkswagen has already attached the R badge to a hot version of its uber-successful Golf, but unlike that car the Scirocco does without four-wheel drive. The coupe is around 100kg lighter than the hatchback, but all that extra power has to find its way to the road via the front wheels alone.
The manufacturer has also chosen not to fit a mechanical limited-slip differential, preferring instead to rely on the XDS system that electronically controls traction. The adaptive chassis control which allows the driver to select between normal, comfort and sport is transferred from the standard model, albeit with a far stiffer setup in mind.
The Scirocco R comes with a six-speed manual as standard, with VW's DSG as a £1,300 option. The brakes have been upgraded with larger discs and callipers - the latter get a glossy black finish that is visible through a dramatic new alloy wheel design.
Predictably, the R model gets a new look to complement its extra performance. A new front bumper, gloss black wing mirrors, a rear spoiler and a pair of oval exhaust pipes distinguish the car from its siblings. Inside there are new sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and white backlit dials.
