The Volkswagen Corrado is a sports car designed as a successor to the Scirocco, with the ambition to rival even the Porsche 944. It was one of the first production cars with a spoiler that activated automatically when driving, and one of the first to be powered by the innovative VR6 engine. Today it is considered a legend, but it did not achieve the expected commercial success when it arrived on the market and was only available for seven years – from 1988 to 1995. Nevertheless, it remained Volkswagen’s fastest production passenger car for almost a decade.
When it launched in 1988, the Corrado came with two engine options: a 1.8-liter inline-four producing 134 horsepower, and a 1.8-liter G60 supercharged version with approximately 160 horsepower.
Over the next seven years, the Corrado underwent several changes, the most significant of which came in 1992 when it began using the new VR6 engine, which produced 187 horsepower in Europe and 178 horsepower in the U.S.
Did you know?
- The Corrado was one of the first production cars equipped with an electronically controlled rear spoiler (so-called “active aero”). The first such spoiler actually appeared in 1984 on the Lancia Thema, and was soon followed by other models such as the Corrado and the Mitsubishi GTO / 3000GT. The spoiler only raises at higher speeds, with the exact speed depending on the model and market: in American models, it activates at around 70 km/h (45 mph), while in European models it activates at higher speeds, usually around 100–120 km/h (60–75 mph). It automatically retracts when speed drops below approximately 25 km/h (15 mph). The spoiler improves vehicle stability at high speeds and is said to reduce rear lift by as much as 64%. A manual switch is also available, allowing the spoiler to be raised at any time – for example, for car cleaning purposes.
- In 1992, the Corrado became one of the first Volkswagen models available with the new VR6 engine, which replaced the previous G60 unit. The VR6 is an exceptionally compact engine thanks to its narrow angle between cylinder banks — just 15 degrees — compared to traditional V6 engines, which typically range from 45 to 90 degrees. This compact design made production cheaper, as all six cylinders could use a single cylinder head – similar to a conventional inline-six. Due to the limited space in the Corrado, this design was ideal. Later, Volkswagen combined two VR6 engines to create the W12 engine used in the Phaeton. This engine also served as the basis for the development of the famous W8 and even the W16 engine used by Bugatti.
- Comparison of an inline four-cylinder, a conventional V6 and a VR6 engine from above.
- During the seven years of production, Volkswagen explored various ideas to improve the Corrado due to low sales figures. Not long after the Corrado’s launch, they commissioned the company Marold Automobili to develop a more practical wagon version of the coupé under the code name Magnum, with the intention of producing up to 200 units for the European market. Unfortunately, only a few prototypes were made before Volkswagen halted production. In 2016, two of these prototypes were up for sale — each priced at $50,000.
- In 1993, a convertible concept was also created by Karmann. Due to a lack of space, the rear seats had to be removed. This limitation, along with a retail price that was considered not profitable enough, led to the project’s cancellation.
- After the 1992 updates, Car and Driver magazine compared the Corrado to other sports coupes available at the time: the Honda Prelude Si, Ford Probe GT, Mazda MX-6, and Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX. In the comparison test, the Corrado was rated as one of the most exciting and technically advanced cars in its class. It demonstrated clear strengths: rapid acceleration to 100 km/h, a high top speed, precise steering, and strong braking. However, it also revealed its main weakness: the price. The base price of the Corrado SLC, which finished third in the test, was $22,540 — significantly higher than competitors like the Ford Probe GT, which cost $15,504 and finished in first place. Despite its high price, the Corrado lacked airbags and came with motorized seat belts, which made it less appealing to buyers.
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The Corrado was not as successful as Volkswagen had hoped, with just 97,521 units sold — a disappointment compared to its predecessor, the Scirocco, of which more than 500,000 were sold in the first generation and nearly 300,000 in the second. There were several reasons for the Corrado’s weaker sales performance, but its high price was likely the biggest obstacle.
Still, despite its lackluster sales, the Corrado was – and still is – appreciated by car enthusiasts. Its technical sophistication, unique features, and engaging driving experience earned it the status of a classic model, remembered by many as one of the most interesting Volkswagens of all time.
