A high powered Volkswagen Scirocco concept car has been unveiled at the annual Worthersee Festival in Austria at the same time as a trio of race-prepared, factory-entered Scirocco racers prepare for the start of the Nurburgring 24-hour race.

The Scirocco GT24 road car has a race-tuned 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI engine developing 295bhp at 6,500 rpm. This is mated to a six-speed DSG gearbox which puts power through to the front wheels only. The gearbox features uprated clutch plates along with revised gear ratios and a lightened flywheel linked to a differential lock.

The vehicle is based on the shell of the Scirocco race car, prepared by Volkswagen Motorsport in Hanover and is finished in Volkswagen Racing Blue.

Although many components are carried over from the road car, the Scirocco GT24’s dimensions vary significantly, with a 227mm gain in length and 61mm gain in width to accommodate a wider track.

Lowered, adjustable race damper units account for a 75mm drop in ride height on a set of 18″ lightweight racing wheels housing 362mm (255 mm at the rear) racing brake discs clamped by six-piston callipers.

With many components removed from the road car the Scirocco GT24 weighs 178 kg less, tipping the scales at 1,120 kg.

Inside the GT24 is a rollcage and Recaro bucket seats with five-point harnesses are included for the driver and passenger.

The road-going Scirocco, on which the GT24 concept is based, goes on sale in the UK on August 29. It will be powered initially by a 2.0-litre TSI engine developing 196bhp linked to a choice of six-speed manual or DSG gearboxes.

Popularity: 3% [?]