Ride and handling

The handling is safe, grippy and predictable, complemented by plenty of steering feel and an electronic stability system that allows just enough playfulness before applying a steadying hand.

UK cars will come with adaptive chassis control, which allows the driver to choose the stiffness of the suspension, the weighting of the steering and the speed of the throttle responses at the flick of a switch.

We'll need to explore the system further on British roads to give a definitive verdict, but the early signs are certainly encouraging.

Regardless of setting, body roll is well contained when cornering hard, while flat-out blasts down a lengthy straight showed that the car has excellent high-speed stability and that wind noise is pretty low.

We also sneaked out onto public roads to find out what the car was like on less-silky surfaces.

The Scirocco's ride holds no nasty surprises. The suspension works quietly over battered surfaces and body remains nicely controlled over dips and crests and through fast, sweeping bends.