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4
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twincharger |
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210
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(from
Volkswagen Press Release) Comeback
of a successful idea: 33 years ago at the international Motor Show
in Geneva Volkswagen presented a sensational coupé. It was compact,
distinctive, agile, spacious and affordable. Volkswagen called it
the Scirocco. The car struck the nerve of the times: More than half
a million first generation Sciroccos were produced worldwide.
Turning point: In August 2006 the largest car maker in Europe is
showing the reinterpretation of the successful Scirocco idea in a
world premiere – the Iroc concept.
New VW sports car
design: Like the first Scirocco with its visual straightforwardness
the Iroc also marks a stylistic turning point through its
progressively designed radiator grill and a distinctive sensuality
of forms. The concept of both Volkswagens is closely related, even
though the vehicles are separated by over three decades: The first
generation Scirocco was an attainable dream car for many people.
Because the Scirocco was an automotive superstar of the 70’s, styled
by Giorgetto Giugiaro and equipped with four full-fledged seats, a
proper trunk, large hatchback and a lot of self-esteem. The Iroc
concept takes up this fascinating idea again.
Purebred sports car
instead of a classic coupé: However, in contrast to the original
Scirocco the Iroc is no classic coupé, but a progressively designed
sports car with an extremely long roof and a comparatively steep
rear end. This has two advantages. Firstly: The Iroc features sharp
proportions. Especially when viewed from behind it becomes
immediately apparent that this long roof together with side window
sections is situated on very broad and powerful shoulders. The Iroc
thus achieves a waist of flawless sports car theory. Secondly: The
Iroc also has room in back for two adults and ample luggage. On
balance the provocatively designed Iroc combines a high degree of
suitability for daily use, pure driving fun and expressive design
into a Volkswagen that as a possible series-production vehicle will
also be very attractively positioned in terms of price.
Viper green meets dark
carbon: The Iroc concept exhibits numerous subtleties in detail.
Paint example: Although anything but retro styled, the green used is
an homage to the first generation Scirocco for which this exact
shade of color was especially typical starting with the 1976 model.
Then as now it’s called “viper green metallic”. This glaring green
of the Iroc is especially effective in combination with the high
contrast black shades of the concept. Carbon example: The central
roof element is composed of dark tinted glass; this element is
supported by a structure covered with carbon. An integrated
lengthwise support is also a part of these materials. The side sills
of the Iroc also have a carbon surface. The structure of the sill
visible from outside continues seamlessly into the interior.
Sexy dimensions: With
its short overhangs the Iroc efficiently utilizes a wheelbase of
2,680 mm for the space provided inside. The concept is 1,400 mm
high, 4,240 mm long and 1,800 mm wide. The light-alloy rims
specially designed for the Iroc and 235 tires are implemented in 19
inch size.
Twincharger and DSG: The
Iroc is powered by a TSI engine, referred to in-house as a
Twincharger. Shifting tasks are handled by the DSG direct shift
gearbox. About the Twincharger: First employed in the Golf GT in
2006, TSI engines are currently the most efficient four-cylinder
gasoline engines in the world. The combination of compressor and
turbocharger shows the path to the future. The compressor
compensates for the typical powering up weaknesses of turbo-only
gasoline engines at low rpms. The turbocharger in contrast packs a
mighty punch at higher revs. The combination of both superchargers
in large-volume production engines is the only one of its kind in
the world. The TSI version used in the concept achieves 155 kW / 210
hp. In principle, a large range of supercharged engines are
conceivable for the Iroc that could start significantly under 110 kW
/ 150 hp. But there’s one thing every engine theoretically employed
in the Iroc has to guarantee: Driving fun.
FRONT END DESIGN
Radiator grill and
headlights make unmistakably clear that the Volkswagen Iroc concept
is more than a cruiser
Radiator philosophy: The
new design expression of the Volkswagen concept shows that the Iroc
is a car thoroughly designed for dynamics. A look at the front end
makes this positioning emphatically apparent. There has never been a
radiator grill of this shape for a Volkswagen. By doing so the
company is manifesting the decision to use different “Volkswagen
faces” for specific models and segments. This is already practiced
for the Golf, for example, which features the typical Golf radiator
grill in the Trendline, Comfortline, Sportline and Individual
versions, but sports variations of the crest radiator grill for the
sportier GT, GTI and R32 versions.
Hexagon of aluminum: The
sports car grill specially designed for the Iroc concept is made of
light, brushed aluminum in the outer areas. The honeycombed-shaped
structure of the radiator grill has been a signature of the sporty
Volkswagen since the debut of the current Golf GTI. Designed as a
hexagonal air intake, the grill goes all the way down to the dark
front apron. To the right and left of it there are two more air
intakes for cooling the brakes. While the upper transverse web of
the radiator grill is flush with the engine hood, the short side
sections of the frame directly abut the xenon headlights. It is
apparent here that the image of the radiator grill hexagon almost
inevitably results from the connection of the headlights. The
headlight casing itself is comparatively narrow and drawn up to the
fenders in the modulation. Together with the radiator grill the
headlights pay full honor to the Iroc’s “viper green” paint.
V-shape up to the
A-pillars: As a virtual continuation of the radiator grill lines two
elevated and sharply cut flanges divide the engine hood into three
sections. In the middle and a bit lower the largest of these
surfaces continues the V-shape of the sports car grill up to the
A-pillars. The A-pillars themselves are hard to see from the front,
because the windshield is extremely wide and overlaps the pillars
from the front. The two other surfaces of the engine hood descend
into the exposed fenders.
DESIGN SILHOUETTE
Marked C-pillars and
window areas; large surfaces with a completely unique excitement
Statement of the surfaces: Whoever wipes his hand first across one
of the headlights then over the fender and one of the doors will
feel that the surfaces of the silhouette twist against one another.
In particular the waistline above the front wheel arches and the
door handles up to the upper edge of the rear lights drawn far to
the side demonstrate this effect. Depending on perspective and the
way the light falls this causes the side sections to look different
each time, fascinating and like a taut muscle.
Endlessly long roof: Furthermore, it’s the hidden B-pillars, the
markedly distinct C-pillars and the embedded rear side window here
that together with the seemingly endlessly long roof line impart a
completely unique presence and dynamic. The surfaces of the side
windows extend the compact body of the Iroc. Still more: They
reverse the proportions of classic sports cars – short roof, long
engine hood. And this shape makes the Iroc unique. Moreover, the
roof spoiler integrated in this section adds even more dynamics,
both functionally and stylistically. A completely unique
counterpoint to the interplay of green and black of the concept is,
last but not least, the sculpturally designed rear lights that are
strikingly succinct, even in silhouette.
REAR END DESIGN
A waist of pure sports
car theory; rear lights as unmistakable as a fingerprint
A typical and yet completely new rear end: The sculptural shape of
the rear lights is most clearly seen from the rear. A typical and
yet completely new Volkswagen rear end: The vehicle character here
is determined by the relationship of the proportions between roof
and shoulder sections and thus the waist. If it is sharply contoured
classic sports car lines emerge. And this is exactly what the Iroc
has. Due to the roof extending far to the back, the designers were
able to dramatically pull in the sides and place the passenger
compartment – the roof along with B- and C-pillars – on very sexy
shoulders or, better to say, hips. The already wide track has an
even wider effect visually. The fact is: The sexy proportions in
this case stand in stark contrast to the more tightly drawn core
elements of the rear end.
Rear lights like eyes:
This effect is underscored by the nearly eye-shaped contour of the
horizontally arranged rear lights, which – being integrated far into
the fenders – act like a continuation of the C-pillars. The clear
and reduced shape of the rear window is clearly set off from the
lower part of the hatch and rear apron. The general view of the
broad track together with waisted roof line plus roof spoiler and a
diffusor visually suggested in the rear apron imparts a markedly
powerful image of the Iroc. Detail in the margins: Even the flat and
trapezoid-shaped exhaust pipes comply with the dictates of dynamics,
because they continue the shape of the diffusor to the outside.
INTERIOR
Bucket seats with
5-point belt underscore Nürburgring-Nordschleifen talents of the
concept
Variable four-seater: As outlined, the Iroc is a four-seater. Behind
the wide open (and attached just as wide in the roof) hatchback a
spacious trunk with over 300 l of storage volume is concealed. The
level corresponds to the original Scirocco. The trunk capacity can
also be greatly expanded by folding down the back seats. The
resulting flat loading surface and the folded down seat backs
feature guide rails onto which a multifunctional transportation lock
system can be integrated.
Car racing suitability:
The extremely sporty orientation of the Iroc concept is also
reflected par excellence in the interior. Under the auspices of the
uniquely conceived design theme an interior was developed that was
uncompromisingly harmonized for potential racing use. And this at
the racing car level as the front bucket seats with integrated
5-point seatbelts and central lock already show. However, the focus
of the design lies on gauges and controls. Two large and completely
newly designed round instruments form the visual center and
highlight of the cockpit: Both main instruments have a bluish glow
in a dark acrylic casing. The driver looks into two cylinders with
twelve illuminated bars; they create a three dimensional
segmentation within the instruments. Two bright metal rings enclose
both central gauges. The surfaces of the painted dashboard elements
are refined with a crystal structure, similar to other parts used in
the interior.
Concept breaks with
conventions: Generally applied, practically all materials represent
a creative break with what is known and has been learned. The color
and trim designers combined color contrasting materials such as
neoprene in “viper green”, leather with reptile embossing (in
bicolor black/anthracite) and “breathing” high-tech “space fabric”
(in “titan black”). In addition to the instrument panel encased in
black leather, a layer of carbon paint which is also black is used
on the doors, the roof area and floors and forms the framework for
the most important functional blocks. Example of door opener: The
robust handle in aluminum look design corresponds in shape and color
to the compact central console. Example of gearshift lever: When
idle it lies flush in a console and only after ignition moves into
operational position – an innovative anti-theft protection system
and fascinating visualized technology at the same time. Finally, the
following two examples from the dashboard make clear how far the
love for detail and for cars goes at Volkswagen: The hexagonal air
conditioning vents in matt silver mirror the design theme of the
radiator grill. A excerpt from the world of great sports cars is
meanwhile the row of classic toggle switches.
