
Design and dynamic of a new age:
- VW Iroc concept as a perspective on the sports car of tomorrow
- [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Iroc transfers the globally successful Scirocco idea into the future.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sports car with four seats, sleek design and agile turbo engines[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]New VW sports car design:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 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 70s, 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.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Purebred sports car instead of a classic coup:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] However, in contrast to the original Scirocco the Iroc is no classic coup, 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.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Viper green meets dark carbon:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 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 its 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.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sexy dimensions:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 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.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Twincharger and DSG:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 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 theres one thing every engine theoretically employed in the Iroc has to guarantee: Driving fun.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Front end design[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Radiator grill and headlights make unmistakably clear that the Volkswagen Iroc concept is more than a cruiser[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Radiator philosophy:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 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.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Hexagon of aluminum:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 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 Irocs viper green paint.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]V-shape up to the A-pillars:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 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.[/FONT]