MtM scirocco R flogs 310 hp

Through the late 1970s, sporting Fiats and Alfas
graced my garage. I loved the way these cars
looked and drove, but the predilection of their metal
components turning into ferrous oxide was not my
idea of how weight reduction should be achieved.
Then with a chance test drive of a Golf
GTI in 1980 everything changed. Here
at last was a car that combined Italian
brio with German build quality. My Italian
mistress found herself out in the cold
while I romped off into the sunset with
a fraulein from Wolfsburg. But my young
roving heart soon found her prettier
sister, and a Scirocco Storm, and then
one of the very first Scirocco GTI 1800s,
ended up in my garage.
Fast forward to 2008 and I’m blessed
with the spiritual successor to my long
lost loves. Dropping the ride height and
fitting larger wheels and tires never fails
to improve a car’s looks, and the more
inherently sporty that car is, the better.
The MTM Scirocco R fits the bill.
As always, MTM is one of the first
tuners out of the starting blocks. The
company’s Stage 3 conversion for the
turbocharged 2.0 TSI increases the 200hp output by a whopping 50 percent to
310 hp at 6080 rpm, with 229 lb-ft of
torque between 3480 and 4600 rpm.
While the 2.0 TSI motor is an all-new
engine family with a different block,
there are enough mechanical similarities
“Not only does the
engine make more
power, it feels like it
has finally awakened
from a long slumber.”
to the previous engine that much of the
same tuning know-how still applies.
“For this Stage 3 conversion, we use
a bigger turbo and exhaust manifold
similar to those in the Audi S3,” says
MTM boss Roland Mayer. “Backpressure
is a big issue with forced aspirated
engines, so a 200-cell catalytic
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converter is used along with a bespoke
stainless steel exhaust with four outlet
pipes.”
What this does to the car goes far
beyond raw power. Modern turbocharged
engines like this one tend to be tuned
for a fairly flat torque curve via ECU
mapping. While this provides very good
driveability and makes this 2.0-liter feel
like a 3.0-liter normally aspirated motor,
it is also rather anodyne in character
and lacks sports-car-grade excitement.
The MTM interpretation of power
and torque delivery is somewhat more
inspiring. Not only does the engine now
make a lot more power and torque, it
also feels like it has finally awakened
from a long slumber. My old music
teacher’s words—“again, but with more
passion”—spring to mind.
Torque is the key to quite a few good
things. Other than providing better
acceleration, its much larger presence
throughout the tuned engine’s rev range
also means that you don’t have to
work it so hard in real-world driving. In
Happy
Returns
MTM Scirocco R flogs 310 hp
+ by Ian Kuah photography by the author
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european car AUGUST 2009 51
II Happy Returns
everyday traffic conditions, this
translates into broadly similar
economy to the stock Scirocco
despite the significant power
increase. In some instances,
you can even achieve improved
economy by simply riding the
fat torque curve, avoiding fuel
guzzling high revs.
At the other end of the scale,
the Scirocco R is dramatically
quick on the autobahn. Joining
fast moving traffic from the
on-ramp courts little drama.
One moment you’re doing 120
km/h, and scant seconds later
you are past 200 km/h with the
speedometer needle moving
around its dial almost as fast as
the rev counter.
VW’s super-slick DSG gearbox
plays a big role here. The next
ratio and then the one after
merge so seamlessly with the
engine’s power and torque curves
that there seems to be just
one long blast of acceleration
from zero to top speed. Even
so, thanks to the beefy torque
curve, you don’t need to drop a
gear and use the revs too much.
Accelerating rapidly in fifth or
even sixth gear is just a matter of
flexing your right toe. Press harder,
and the electronic brain zaps the
DSG ’box down a cog. But since
two gears are always engaged
simultaneously, you don’t feel
any jerk. You just hear a rise in
the engine rpm and feel the
car thrust forward with renewed
determination.
To cope with the significant
power increase, the front brakes
are replaced with 380mm vented
discs clamped by big eight-pot
calipers, effective when you
have to shed big speed in a
hurry. Pedal feel is very good
and the fast road pads don’t
draw attention to themselves at
town speeds with any uncivilized
squealing.
When I saw the 9.0x20inch wheels and rubberband
265/30 tires, I had immediate
reservations about the potential
ride quality. But Mayer wouldn’t go
down that route unless he had all
his bases covered.
“Unsprung weight is a big issue
and we could never do this with
a 20-inch cast wheel weighing
15kg,” he explains. “We use cast
wheels in 18- and 19-inch sizes,
but for the 20-inch size, our 11kg
forged wheel is a must.”
The grip these big boots
generate is most impressive,
and hunkered down on its MTM
suspension, the Scirocco R feels
“Joining fast-moving
traffic courts little
drama, the speedo
needle moving
almost as fast as the
tachometer.”
52 europeancarweb.com
II Happy Returns
“The idea of two liters producing
a reliable 310 hp and remaining
so driveable is appealing one.”
totally glued to the tarmac on
long autobahn sweepers taken
at big speeds. On country roads,
you have grip way beyond what
you sensibly need, but you do feel
some mild torque steer when you
accelerate hard.
MTM is fundamentally an
engineering-based company
that places its store on engines,
suspension and brakes first, and
everything else second. However,
they do pay more than lip service
to driving comfort, and here I was
most pleased with the supremely
comfortable and supportive
lightweight Recaro seats that
performance, and that it retains
replace the big VW chairs in the
its full emissions certification, are
cabin.
also worthy of note.
At the end of the day however,
This is the kind of tuning MTM
for me it is the MTM motor that
does best, and the fact that cars
is a thing of wonder. The idea of
like the stylish new Scirocco can
a mere two liters producing a
make full use of this engine bodes
reliable 310 hp and remaining
well for the future of the modestly
so driveable that your granny
priced sporting coupe.
could take it to the market is
4
MTM Scirocco R
an appealing one. The fact that
fuel economy remains close
to stock unless you use its full
• Layout
Transverse front engine,
front-wheel drive
• Engine
2.0-liter I4, dohc, 16-valve,
turbocharged and intercooled.
MTM turbo kit, exhaust, software
• Transmission
Six-speed DSG automated manual
• Suspension
MTM springs
• Brakes
Brembo eight-piston calipers,
380mm rotors (f)
• Wheels and Tires
MTM Bimoto forged, 9x20
Michelin Pilot Sport 2, 265/30
• Interior
Recaro sport seats
•Performance
Peak Power: 310 hp @ 6080 rpm
Peak Torque: 229 lb-ft @ 3480 rpm
.............
n Contact
MTM
www.mtm-online.de
54 europeancarweb.com