The Volkswagen Corrado, that iconic compact, turns 30

Over time, certain vehicles mark a before and after in the history of their brands, so that they remain relevant for a long time. This is the case of the Volkswagen Corrado, a sporty compact that was born alongside the Golf, but was aimed at a more demanding audience. The German vehicle left its mark on the automotive world and, 30 years later, it remains present in our memories.

That’s right, although production of the Scirocco – its ultimate successor – ended a few months ago, the German group has not forgotten the Corrado and has decided to celebrate its 30th birthday in style. Taking advantage of the Bremen Classic Motor Show, Volkswagen will showcase several of its historic models to the public, among which the Corrado is a must. At the same time, we will take a brief look back at the life of this model.

It was in 1988 that Volkswagen unveiled to the world a new vehicle concept, which offered sports car performance and could seat up to four passengers. It adopted a design similar to fastbacks, but on a compact body, which gave the Corrado a very attractive appearance. Initially, the Corrado project was meant to replace the Scirocco II but, for various reasons, the company decided to add it to the range as an independent model, becoming a more luxurious option compared to the Scirocco and the Golf.

Although it was a vehicle with a considerably higher level of trim, the German firm did not forget to satisfy all of its customers. To do so, the Corrado offered several engines, starting with a 107 hp 1.8 and culminating in the all-powerful VR6. This variant of the German compact featured a 2.9-litre, 12-valve engine capable of producing 190 hp.

At the same time, Volkswagen also offered a G60 version, whose engine was capable of producing 160 hp, making it a very well-balanced option between sportiness and comfort. The successor to the Volkswagen Corrado was the Scirocco, which bid us farewell not long ago but, fortunately, we can see units of several models from the brand at the Bremen Classic Motor Show.

The show will be open from 2 to 4 February and the company promises an impressive gathering of the most iconic vehicles from Volkswagen. Without a doubt, the Corrado is one of the most exclusive and admired vehicles from the brand and, although it shared several elements with the Golf, it was a unique model within Volkswagen.