Head backwards, and the car becomes slightly less successful, getting a little heavier-looking, fat shoulders heading into haunches and a less impactful rear end with hints of the Volvo C30 about it. The similarities to the baby Swede don't end there; the Scirocco has four good-looking and chunky leather-clad sports chairs inside, with plenty of space between your front-seat elbows.

The rear seats both split and fold and, despite the swoopy lines, there's plenty of room in the back for real-size adult humans, and the hatchback means that a decent boot is a given.

All variants get six airbags, ESP, ABS and hydraulic brake assist, as well as the more usual gubbins like aircon and 'leccy windows. The bonus features continue when you realise the Scirocco also differentiates itself from the Golf by having a more raucous bent. Ah yes, more healthy goodness in the shape of a highly tempting 'Sport' switch.

VW wants you to think of the Scirocco as a particularly sporting little character, hence the new adaptive chassis-control system. It's another chassis-tightening, steering-sharpening reworking of the electronics that allows the Scirocco more finesse on the cobbles, more feel and grip on a decent B-road.

Up front, there's the usual transverse-mounted four pots (no R32/36 4x4 version been mentioned yet - though that's the one that everyone wants to see), and at launch in the UK, we'll be getting the 198bhp T-FSI driving the front wheels through either a standard six-speed manual or equally six-speed DSG 'box.

Vee-Dub expects the launch car to cost £20,500, and that will be followed by a broader palette of TSI petrol and common-rail TDIs from 2009, some of those equipped with the new seven-speed version of the double-clutch paddleshift, which should make for some amusing downward glances to see what gear you're in, just as you approach a particularly tight corner.

It's also worth noting that the cheapest cars appearing in '09 won't exactly be bargain-bucket, the smallest TSI-engined variant still expected to tip the scales at £18k.

You can order the car from June in the UK - which is when VW reckon they'll have the full spec and price lists in place - prior to a delivery sometime in September for the 198bhp cars. The verdict? It's likely to drive well, looks smashing and will be as reliable as a Volkswagen. It's a touch on the pricey side, but just about gets away with it because of its fresh design and sporting bent. We like. TT watch out.

Tom Ford