Volkswagen Corrado

Manufacturer	Karmann
Production	1988-1995
Assembly	Osnabrück, Germany
Predecessor	Volkswagen Scirocco
Class	Sport compact
Body style	3-door coupé
Layout	FF layout
Platform	hybrid Volkswagen Group A2 platform & B3 platform
Engine	1.8L I4 115 hp 1.8L I4 16 valve 123 or 139 hp 1.8L I4 Supercharged 158 hp 2.0L I4 16 valve 134 hp 2.8L VR6 178 hp 2.9L VR6 192 hp
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	1989-1992: 97.3 in (2,471 mm) 1993-95: 97.2 in (2,469 mm)
Length	159.4 in (4,049 mm)
Width	1989-1992: 65.9 in (1,674 mm) 1993-95: 66.5 in (1,689 mm)
Height	51.9 in (1,318 mm)
Related	Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen Jetta SEAT Toledo Mk1

The Volkswagen Corrado is a hatchback coupé developed by German automaker Volkswagen and built by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany, between 1 September 1988 and 31 July 1995.

Conceived as a successor to the successful Scirocco, it is a three-door hatchback with a 2+2 seating layout. The Corrado used Volkswagen's B3 platform in the rear of the car, while using the A2 platform technology up front, which it shared with the then-current Golf Mk2 and Jetta. It shared many mechanical parts with other Volkswagen A platform cars as well. In 1990 the Corrado went on sale in the United States.

The Corrado offered exceptional handling for its time, and was listed as one of the "25 Cars You Must Drive Before You Die" by the British magazine, Car. All models featured an innovative rear spoiler which automatically raised when the vehicle reached a set speed (45) mph depending on the region and model). On the BBC television show Top Gear, host Richard Hammond stated that the Corrado "... was too expensive, and nobody bought it", thus it reached a production total of just 97,521 vehicles.

Variants

Launched in late 1988, (three years before the end of Scirocco production) All Corrados were front-wheel drive and featured petrol engines. It debuted with two engine choices: a 1.8 litre, 16-valve, inline-4 with 136 bhp (101 kW; 138 PS) as the base model (only available in Europe) and a supercharged 1.8 litre, 8-valve inline-4, marketed as the G60, and delivering 160 bhp (120 kW; 160 PS). The G60 is named for the G-Lader with which it is equipped, a scroll supercharger whose interior resembles the letter "G".

Volkswagen introduced two new engines for 1992. The first was a naturally aspirated 2.0 litre, 16 valve, 136 bhp (101 kW; 138 PS) inline-4, basically a further development of the 1.8 litre engine; this engine was not made available to the North American market. The second was the highly-regarded 12-valve VR6 engine which came in two variants: a 2.8 litre 179 bhp (133 kW; 181 PS) model for the US and Canadian markets and a 2.9 litre and 192 bhp (143 kW; 195 PS) version for the European market. In the United States the VR6 model was marketed as the Corrado SLC (sport luxury coupe). With the introduction of the VR6 engine, the G60 engine disappeared from the North American market after 1992 and European market in 1993. The VR6 engine was revolutionary at the time because it provided a compromise between both V-shaped and straight engines, by placing the two cylinder banks at an angle of 15° with a single cylinder head. This design allowed engineers to fit a six-cylinder engine into roughly the same space that was previously occupied by four-cylinder engines, while closely approaching the smoothness of a straight-six design. 1994 was the last model year of the Corrado in the United States. Canada was lucky enough to have had 87 VR6 Corrado's made for the 1995 model. Only about 25 of these are still on the road today.

Corrado VR6 with standard 15" Canadian wheels

The launch of the VR6 in the UK was highlighted by the production of a limited run of 6 cars, these models are known as "Campaign" cars, since they were produced for the VR6 launch marketing campaign. They were painted in a unique dusty mauve metallic, had a complete interior retrim in brick red leather and were fitted with electric Recaro sports seats as standard. These 6 cars were given to the top 6 UK VW dealers in 1992 (rated by how many Karmann cars (Golf cabrio, Scirrocco, Corrado) were sold between January 1992 and August the 1st 1992), No retail price was set on these but all six versions sold for around ₤21,000. One Campaign is known to be written off in 1999.

Corrado VR6 with standard 15" Speedline wheels

In a last-ditch attempt to popularize the car, a 2.0 litre 8-valve model 115 bhp (86 kW; 117 PS) was produced in Europe in 1995. Its uninspiring performance did not make up for the impressive standard spec and lower price, and production ceased in Europe with only 213 models made. Along side this a UK-only limited production model was sold, the Corrado VR6 Storm. Some discreet "Storm" badging, a colour-keyed front grille, 15 inch BBS "Solitude" alloy wheels, and standard fitment of some previously optional items (such as the leather heated front seats) were all that differentiated this model from the base Corrado VR6. Only 500 were produced, 250 in Classic Green with a cream leather interior, and 250 in Mystic Blue, a colour unique to the Storm, with a black leather interior.

A few other unique examples of the Corrado exist alongside the "Campaign" and "Storm" models. The original builder, Karmann, have 4 Corrados in their private museum collection. The 1st one is a convertible concept that features a fully functional hood mechanism but no engine, the 2nd is a last of the line VR6 model that is fully working and has a selection of trim options from international markets. Wille Schwebe, the Karmann production engineer who supervised the Corrado project, was quoted as saying "we just put all the cool bits on it that we liked". The 3rd version is a pick-up truck variant that was designed by Karmann's in-house students as their final year project. This is a fully working vehicle with the later 2l 8v engine fitted; unfortunately this vehicle is in use by the current museum curator. Finally there is a 16vG60 engined Corrado that was used by the chairman of the Karmann group as his daily car. The factory production sticker in the boot shows it to be a G60 engined vehicle in white, it is in fact a burgundy colour with a custom leather interior. There are some notable touches for the interior including an armrest fitting over the handbrake and an embossed VW logo on the centre section of the steering wheel.

Reception and reviews

Rear-view

The Corrado was generally well received by the automotive press of its time, yet failed to capture the hearts of the general public. A high price tag, coupled with a marque that was not known at the time for producing sports cars caused the Corrado to be looked over in favour of the other similarly priced, better known sports cars of its time.

As of more recent years, the automotive press have shown high regard for the Corrado and its capabilities as a sports car. On the BBC television show Top Gear, host Richard Hammond stated that the Corrado "... drives as well as if not better than the lot of current cars" and also described it as "...properly quick". A recent article on MSN Auto lists the Corrado as one of eight "Cool Cars We Miss".

As of 10 January 1991 the price of the Corrado was $28,468 on the road for a 16v and $30,012 on the road for a G60.[VW Car Price Brochure Dated 10th Jan 1991] Metallic paint would cost an extra $413 and the leather interior option added $1,498 onto the final bill.

• Cool Cars We Miss - MSN Autos Article
• VW CORRADO Limited Edition Premier, Brooklands Books LTD. Surrey,UK. 2006.
• VW Parts Catalogue ETKA
• VW Models price list, UK version dated 10 January 1991.