A SCIROCCO is a hot wind blowing from the Sahara desert to the Mediterranean - whereas Volkswagen's R version is a hurricane hatch with devastating velocity whichever direction you point it in.

The front-wheel drive coupe is a force of nature reaching 62mph from a standing start in just 5.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155mph.

The 2.0-litre monster masquerading as an engine beneath the bonnet generates 280 horsepower and a sound track to die for. Forget that Spandau Ballet CD (a friend of mine had Gold running on a loop in his ‘Shiroc' in the mid-1980s) the throaty roar produced by the engine is nothing short of exhilarating and negates the need for the audio system.

A word of warning though - keep a careful check on your speed as this is one motor that can break any limit in the blink of an eye.

The Scirocco has a rich history and there's a nod in the latest R model to the 1974 original with a cluster of three dials for oil pressure, stop clock and turbo boost sitting on top of the middle of the facia. The last mentioned is particularly addictive as the needle shoots forward every time you put the pedal to the metal.

It is sensational to drive. Choose the Comfort setting and it is quick enough while being reasonably tame around town. Switch everything to Sport mode using the Adaptive Chassis Control and you have VW's version of a rocket ship. Throttle and steering responses are sharpened up while the whole car is stiffer improving the handling. It's lots of fun but Comfort mode is better for everyday use.

Average fuel economy is surprisingly good for a performance-focused vehicle at more than 30mpg but carbon dioxide emissions of 187g/km mean there is an environmental as well as a tax bill to pay.

The exterior looks the part as it is all angular lines and pronounced air scoops which, combined with sporty body kit, twin exhaust clusters and eye-catching 19-inch alloy wheels, leave no doubt this car feels the need for speed.

Other trinkets include super-bright bi-xenon headlamps, snazzy LED running lights and chrome door mirror caps.

The interior doesn't let the side down as there are sports seats specific to the R model plus a redesigned steering wheel with a flat bottom as well as natty triangular door handles. There are neat rotary dials to control the air conditioning and a touch-screen infotainment system that is simple to operate.

Other goodies include parking sensors, satellite navigation, an air-conditioned glovebox, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-activated wipers, a multifunction steering wheel and Bluetooth for your mobile.

There is also an impressive attention to detail with just one example being the frameless windows which drop a touch to prevent them snagging when you unlock the doors.

Unlike some coupes, four adults can be accommodated without any fuss although the sloping roofline leaves headroom a little tight in the back

The boot is big enough to handle a family's weekly supermarket shopping but a high bootlid makes loading and unloading more difficult than it should be.