CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MILTON KEYNES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CAR RAFFLE - TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Wow. That one word, those three little letters, have taken Volkswagen into a whole new dimension of motoring. Volkswagen have upped the ante. VW have popped the cork.The Scirocco has been reborn.

Twenty eight years after I first started road testing Volkswagens, I've been driving a head-turner from the marque. People have pointed. Stared. Peeked inside.

The German marque famous for its solidity, dependability and quality have at a  stroke added glamour to their range – and that's something that has been sorely missing.

Even the original Scirocco, launched back in '74, wasn't this seductive. The fact that the old Sciroccos have a solid bank of admirers and that they have now become something of a classic car says plenty about the original design.

But just take a look at this new Scirocco. From all angles it's sensational. A little bit of Jensen? A little sprinkling of old Volvo? Maybe, but Scirocco stands on its own as the new benchmark for the class – the most elegant and dynamic coupe I think VW has yet produced.

With its frowning, slit eyes and slimline two-bar grille, up over the sweetly rounded roof to that gorgeous little back window and wicked rear roof spoiler, this is eye candy. The side profile view is undoubtedly best, where the big side doors seem to be sucked in, then the muscular rear flanks flare out dramatically.

And the wide, bared teeth /air dam and slice-'em-up chariot wheels are the icing on the cake.

Inside, the good news continues. The test car 2.0 TSI was kitted out with superb retro-look black stitched leather sports seats that shore you up so well everywhere, you feel you could tackle a run to Scotland just for the fun of it.

And there's nothing to puzzle you about the dash layout, which has been brilliantly simplified. Like the old original, this Scirocco has its instruments and displays just where you want them, all clearly identifiable.

But the old Scirocco wouldn't have had the centre display surrounded by push buttons and a touch screen, or state-of-the-art features such as the silencing of the CD-tuner when you are reversing.

And though you wouldn't want to to take your grannie for a spin when it comes to getting her in the back and winching her out, access to the three-door coupe is still as good as you'll get, as the front seats easily slide forward out of the way.

Even the rear legroom isn't too bad and unusually, the back seats are just as good as the front ones.

One great bonus is those huge, long side windows which, although narrow, give the driver improved rear vision. The tiny rear window isn't great to see through, but the back of the car is easily judged.

And the Scirocco has an excellent deep boot, though a narrow aperture means you won't be loading many heavy-duty goods in.

Best of all is that new Scirocco is a deeply satisfying drive. The much-vaunted 2.0TSI version is a darling of an engine, with genuinely quick zero to 62mph in 7.2 seconds, a nice deep, bass note to the exhausts with suitable thrum at high revs and amazing torque – the coupe will really respond and pull hard and urgently, even if you're asking questions of it in fourth, fifth or sixth.

A dazzling fast, slick six-speed gearbox, excellent stability, effortless, flat cornering and superb balance all add to the fun and brakes are powerful, subtle and have plenty of feel.

And the Scirocco will still be returning getting on for 40mpg overall, so what's the problem?

With excellent residuals virtually guaranteed, this Scirocco is already set to become a classic. And it's the best and most satisfying VW I think I've ever tested.

If you've got the money, why wouldn't you buy it?

At a glance:

• Volkswagen Scirocco GT 2.0 TSI 200 PS, £20,940.


• Front engine, front drive, four seats, two doors, low and wide, built in Portugal.


• Powered by 1984cc engine producing 200 PS @ 5,100-6,000.


• Top speed 146mph; 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds.


• Fuel economy: urban 26.6mpg, ex-urban 47.9mpg; combined 37.2mpg.


• CO2 emissions: 179g/km.


• Adaptive chassis control allows driver to choose from comfort, sport and normal modes to define desired suspension, steering and accelerator response settings for any particular journey.


• Standard gear includes ABS with ESP, six airbags, alloy wheels and air-con (electronic climate control on GT models).


• First generation of Scirocco was sold in UK from 1974-84; second from 1985-93.


• Scirocco name derives from hot wind that blows from the Sahara desert to the Mediterannean.