The Corrado used Volkswagen's B3 platform in the rear of the car, while using the A2 platform technology up front, which it shared with the then-current Golf and Jetta. It shared many mechanical parts with other Volkswagen A platform cars as well. In 1990 the Corrado went on sale in the United States.
The Corrado offered exceptional handling for its time and was listed as one of the "25 Cars You Must Drive Before You Die" by the British magazine, Car. All models featured an innovative rear spoiler which automatically raised when the vehicle reached a set speed (45–65 mph depending on the region). Perceived as too expensive, it reached a production total of just 97,521 vehicles according to VWCorrado.de. However, many owner clubs exist around the world and it has become something of a modern classic.
All Corrados were front-wheel drive and featured gasoline engines. It debuted with two engine choices: a 1.8 litre, 16-valve, straight-4 with 136 PS (100 kW) as the base model and a supercharged 1.8 litre, 8-valve straight-4, marketed as the G60 and delivering 160 PS (118 kW). The first engine was initially available only in Europe. The G60 is named for the G-Lader with which it is equipped, a scroll supercharger whose interior resembles the letter "G". |