VW Scirocco GT TSI
After an absence of nearly 20 years, VW has relaunched its iconic, Golf based
coupe, the Scirocco. Like its predecessor, the new Scirocco is a two-door
4-seater (just) coupe based on the Golf platform and uses the powertrain
from the GTi but its focus is more sporting and less practical which is essential
to understand.
The Scirocco is lower slung and wider than the Golf, more lean, purposeful
and handsome rather than pretty with its strong shoulders and high waist. It
also has a much narrower grille than the rest of the VW range – sign
of things to come? The result is striking.
Of course the low, wide stance is not just about looks. With a lower centre
of gravity and bigger footprint, the handling of the Scirocco is even more
assured than the Golf GTi, which really is saying something. Even at ridiculously
high cornering speeds the Scirocco’s wonderfully poised and there are
no signs of it letting go. This road-holding hasn’t come at the expense
of ride comfort either. The Scirocco has adaptive suspension that allows ride
to be set in sport or comfort modes but even in sport mode it’s no bone-shaker,
whilst comfort still provides excellent handling.
VW has no shortage of top-notch engines to choose from but the 2.0 Turbo used
in the Golf GTi is the pick of the crop. It’s a flexible, free-revving
and delightfully responsive unit with 200bhp and masses of torque on tap but
very reasonable fuel consumption and CO2 figures. Performance, unsurprisingly,
is extremely brisk with 0-62 in a shade over seven seconds and topping out
at 146mph. Allied to this are the brilliant DSG auto gearbox with its Formula
1 style paddle-shifts.
If there’s one aspect of the Scirocco that slightly disappoints it’s
the interior. Build quality is excellent, controls work well, it’s well
laid out and it’s very well specced but it’s a shame VW weren’t
more adventurous and didn’t inject some flair more befitting of the exterior
design.
Many commentators have questioned why anyone would want to buy a GTi when the
Scirocco looks better, offers the same performance and a better drive for similar
money – well, it depends on your perspective. If you need a practical
hatchback but hanker after a fun and exhilarating drive then the Golf GTi fits
the bill, but if you rarely need hatchback practicality then go for the Scirocco.
It’s the same price, looks great and drives beautifully.
0-60: 7.1 secs
Top speed: 146mph
Price: £20,449
Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4TB
If cars were judged on looks alone the MiTo (an amalgam of Milan and Torino)
would be on anyone’s shortlist, add in Alfa’s pedigree and character
and it should be a sure-fire winner. But in the ultra-competitive super-mini
sector it’ll need a lot more than looks and charm. Fortunately for Alfa,
the MiTo has substance as well as style.
The MiTo is not your usual supermini. Alfa have emphasised its sporting nature
from the outset by releasing the MiTo in three-door form only. Alfa seem content
to satisfy a niche currently occupied by the Mini and to a lesser extent the
Fiat 500 - the only other small cars where the focus is on design, passion
and fun rather than utilitarianism.
Where the Mini and Fiat 500 look to the past for inspiration the MiTo is much
more futuristic and looks marvellous. Far from a kitsch retro approach, the
MiTo’s avant-garde design makes it the coolest car in its sector by a
country mile.
Visually the MiTo owes a lot to the 8C, Alfa’s beautiful supercar. Trying
to translate the best parts of exotic car designs to more workaday models can
be tricky (Porsche’s Cayenne, for example) but Alfa have really pulled
it off with a combination of bold lines, flamboyant detailing and graceful
curves.
The flair is evident inside too – the dash is full of panache but still
effective and of high quality. More generally, the cabin looks and feels good
and it’s also a comfortable place to be. If there’s a criticism
it’s the poor headroom in the back – the price paid for those stunning
lines.
Comfort levels are helped by the adoption of a rather clever suspension design
(with inner coil-over-springs set within the shock absorbers) that eliminates
roll and wallowing without firming up the ride. The result is a classy cabin
and composed ride more befitting a saloon.
Engine options on the MiTo are excellent, combining strong performance with
frugal consumption and CO2 figures. Our car’s 1.4 turbo was powerful
(155bhp), brisk and lively helped by the MiTo’s low weight. With the
addition of Alfa’s DNA system, the driver can change the response settings
of the engine, throttle and steering, etc, for performance, economy or poor
weather. The system is very effective and the ‘dynamic’ setting
is particular fun.
In addition to DNA, the MiTo also comes with myriad of electronic gadgetry
to control the steering, differential, brakes and suspension all built on a
rigid chassis. The sum total of which is excellent, well-balanced handling
and confidence inspiring grip. Alfa’s DST steering is electro-assisted
which increases safety by countering the effect of oversteer in corners but
at the expense of the high levels of steering feedback historically present
in Alfas – it’s still good though.
All in all, a small car you’ll want to be seen in and you’ll want
to drive.
0-60: 8 secs
Top speed: 134mph
Price: £13,878
Mazda CX7
Normally, we’re a little reticent to road test cars that have been out
a wee while but having noticed ‘crossover’ vehicles in the last
couple of issues of RedHanded, Mazda suggested we try the CX7, which was launched
late in 2007. Their reasoning was that most SUV crossovers were glorified hatchbacks,
whereas the CX7 felt and drove more like a prestige sports saloon, but still
had the benefits of an SUV – space, elevated driving position and off-road
potential - and without the price tag of either (you can have one on contract
for 18 months for just £255). Sounds great, if it’s true. So, we
had a spin to find out.
First impressions are good. The CX7 avoids the visual pitfalls of some crossovers
looking neither dumpy or clumsy but well proportioned and quite handsome, particularly
from the side, with it’s nose and sloping screen and roofline lending
it a sporting edge. Inside there’s an air of quality and spec level that
you have no right to expect at this price. The fascia is a blend of aluminium
and gloss black surfaces reminiscent of upmarket hi-fi and the controls are
satisfyingly firm to the touch. The dash and controls are intuitively arrayed
and the driving position is excellent. Standard spec includes a Bose sound
system, leather electric heated seats and MP3 player connectivity.
Engine choice is limited to Mazda’s excellent 2.3 Turbo. This is the
performance engine in the Mazda stable and it puts out a whopping 280bhp which
makes the CX-7 deceptively quick and gives genuine sports saloon performance
with 0-62 coming up in only 8 seconds. The manner in which the power’s
delivered also impresses – it pulls well throughout the rev-range and
is smooth and refined at all speeds. As ever with Mazda the gearbox is sweet
with nice short throws. For those with an eye on mpg, there’s a diesel
due next year.
The key issue with a tall car is how it handles and Mazda have indeed managed
to disguise the CX-7’s height, not surprising I guess, given that it
shares many components with the excellent Mazda 6. It’s surefooted under
hard cornering, grips well and has confidence-inspiring steering. In reality
it’s never going to be a serious threat to the best sports saloons given
its shape and high ground clearance, but it’s as good as some claiming
that monicker and excellent for an SUV crossover, especially at this price.
For added security and occasional off-roading the CX-7 is equipped with an
intelligent 4WD system that can transfer power to the rear wheels when needed.
The CX-7s handling isn’t at the expense of ride either, which is composed
and comfortable both round town and at speed.
If what you need is a practical, well made and heavily specced, urbanised soft-roader
but really want a sports car, then I’ll let you in on a little secret – the
CX-7 could be just what you’re looking for.
0-60: 8 secs
Top speed: 130mph
Price: £24,000
We’ve found the cars – now you find the excuse for a long drive
Sporting Heroes