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Before we answer the question on whether the VW Corrado should be revived by the car manufacturer facing many issues in recent years, we should ask about the revival of the iconic VW Beetle and the VW Scirocco sports coupe.
WHY? Well, both the Beetle and Sirocco have been respected for their design and also drive dynamics and the previous VW Group management decision to retire these 2 nameplates were frowned upon by VW enthusiast around the globe and till today there has been no word about their revival …… which we think is what VW needs to bring their customers back.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Volkswagen produced one of the most distinctive front-wheel-drive sports coupes in automotive history, the Volkswagen Corrado. Designed as a more premium successor to the Scirocco and hand-built by Karmann, the Corrado combined sharp wedge styling, active aerodynamics with its speed-sensitive rear spoiler, and memorable powertrains most notably the supercharged G60 and the narrow-angle 2.8L and later an updated 2.9L VR6.
With enthusiasts constantly clamoring for pure, driver-focused cars in an era dominated by heavy crossover SUVs, the question frequently resurfaces, ‘should Volkswagen bring back the Corrado’?
The Heritage: Why the Corrado Was Special
To understand whether a modern revival makes sense, we first have to look at what made the original 1988 to 1995 Corrado a cult favorite.
The first engine introduced was the G60 and it introduced the unique G-Lader scroll supercharger, while the subsequent VR6 engine delivered smooth, six-cylinder power and a signature exhaust note within a compact engine bay.
Built on VW’s A2 platform (with A3 rear suspension componentry), the Corrado earned widespread critical acclaim for possessing handling dynamics that rivaled rear-wheel-drive sports cars of its era, mostly from Japan and icons till today in the JDM segment.
Unlike the budget-oriented Scirocco, the Corrado aimed higher upmarket, featuring leather interiors, power sunroofs, and advanced electronics for the time. However, high production costs and a premium price tag meant the original Corrado remained a low-volume niche product, selling fewer than 100,000 units worldwide over its production run.
The Argument FOR a Corrado Revival
As Volkswagen expands its electric ID lineup, critics have noted that many modern EVs lack the mechanical soul and emotional spark that defined classic VW performance models. A lightweight, sharp-handling Corrado EV or hybrid halo car could serve as a brand hero, reigniting enthusiasm among automotive purists.
With modular EV architectures like MEB and the upcoming SSP (Scalable Systems Platform), VW has the technical flexibility to package a low-slung, rear- or dual-motor sports coupe. A twin-motor all-wheel-drive setup could serve as a spiritual successor to the Synchro/VR6 variants.
Today we hear of Toyota reviving the Celica and MR2 nameplates with performance GR engines and Honda has just released the seductive and sexy looking Prelude, plus Nissan has place for a 200SX sports coupe with
Brands like MG (with the Cyberster) and Alpine (with the A290) are demonstrating that compact, sporty electric vehicles have a growing global audience. A production Corrado EV would give VW a direct contender in this emerging enthusiast niche.
In the end ….. as a VW fanboy and a Corrado G60 owner who is currently doing a full restoration on a 1989 car using AXALTA paint and finishing products, it’s an emotional push to get VW Group to consider reviving this stylish coupe with its unforgettable name.
