After its successful launch in Europe, the Volkswagen Corrado arrived stateside in 1990. It was the company’s replacement for the Scirocco model. The sports coupe had some intriguing engine options and a unique hatchback
look. Volkswagen
spent five years tweaking the design to improve performance and work its way into a more upscale market. The price was certainly reflective of that, as its selling price climbed from $21,840 to $28,000 in just two years.What was the Volkswagen Corrado?
Buyers had a choice of two 1.8-liter engines. One was naturally aspirated, and the G60 variant was supercharged up to 158 hp. Although it had a top speed of 140 mph, it was deemed underpowered with minimal torque steer. But the arrival of an automatic transmission in 1991 improved the driving experience, according to MotorBiscuit
. In 1992, the car came with the supercharged inline-four engine but added the option of a 2.8-liter V6. The latter made the Volkswagen Corrado two seconds quicker on a 0 to 60 mph run. It also introduced traction control, soft suspension, and a brake cooling system.
Alloy wheels appeared the following year, but to much disappointment, the lower-rated Goodrich tires in 1994 required a 130-mph speed governor.
HotCars
notes that it was front-wheel drive, a common trait during that era. Some of its competition included the Honda Prelude, Mazda MX-6, and Mitsubishi Eclipse.The leading edge Volkswagen Corrado
Despite mixed reviews, this car managed to innovate its two-door hatch design. The Volkswagen Corrado was the first to incorporate an active rear spoiler. Racks would push the spoiler upward, out of the trunk lid when a microswitch activated at 45 mph.
Engineers successfully balanced the suspension to optimize the car’s handling capabilities. As per Dyler
, the wheel mechanism was precise and responsive. That made it excellent on the public roads and race tracks. The Volkswagen Corrado was built on the same platform as the Golf and used the same rear suspension as the Passat. But it sat atop wider tires and used Koni analogues over the firmer Bilstein shock absorbers. This car was able to keep up with the Porsche 968 for half the price!
The V6 engine was impressive because of the tight angle of the six cylinders. They all squeezed under one head for a more compact fit.
Where did it go?
Volkswagen ended production for the Corrado in 1996 as a result of declining sales. Although practical and sleek with a distinctive growl, this four-seater had a hefty price tag. Due to the nature of exclusivity, this kept the car away from the mass market.
However, this is good news for collectors today. The Volkswagen Corrado has quickly become a classic worth between $30,000 and $50,000 currently. The engine alone is enticing enough. Those who manage to get their hands on one should know that parts are hard to find for this limited-run model.
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