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The new Scirocco R has taken on both the Ford Focus RS and the Nissan 370Z in a triple-test in Autocar magazine - and won.

Scirocco R Beats Focus RS.

Scirocco R Beats Focus RS.

Since Ford's 300PS turbocharged mega-hatch was launched earlier in 2009, it has won near-universal praise for its abilities, taking on rivals and blowing them into the weeds (including, in the previous week's Autocar, the new Renaultsport Megane 250). In the Scirocco R, however, it has met its match.

Autocar's editor at large, Steve Sutcliffe, is effusive in his praise. "[The Scirocco's] performance is deceptively strong right across the rev range and is extraordinarily easy to unleash, courtesy of its excellent throttle response and even more impressive DSG transmission," writes Sutcliffe.

He continues "...it's a more exotic-feeling product than the Ford, inside and out - but let's face it, you'd expect that when comparing any Ford with its similarly priced opponent from Volkswagen.

"Where the Volkswagen really surprises is on the road. It's not as bombastic in its delivery as the RS; it's not meant to be. But there are moments, lots of them, when the Scirocco R can at least level with the Focus on a deserted mountain road, to the point where you can drive the Ford as hard as you like and the Volkswagen will still be there right with it, shadowing it every inch of the way.

Scirocco R Beats Focus RS.