Diesel cars are very successful in Europe, maybe it is because they have a great fuel range, maybe it is because they don’t pollute as much as they used to or maybe it is because in the European Union, the less refined crude product costs a lot less than standard unleaded gasoline. These are all good reasons why people here in the U.S. should think about test-driving a diesel. Especially if it has been modified by the Volkswagen specialists J.E. Design.

The tuners from Leingarten decided to have a go at a TDI powered version of the latest hot hatch from Wolfsburg, a TDI powered VW Scirocco. Starting out to reestablish diesel’s good name, the tuners came up with an engine program to raise the output of the 140 HP version to 180 HP and increase the thrust from 235 lb-ft to 295 lb-ft of torque. For the more hardcore tuning enthusiast, the 2.0 TDI CR program takes the 170 HP from factory and increases it to 205 HP and increases twisting power to 302 lb-ft of torque. This model can go from 0 to 60 MPH in around 7 seconds flat and hit a top speed of 142 MPH. The power units retail for around 1200 and 1500 Euro each.

The J.E. Design body kit can be yours for only 900 Euro, but the funky door hinges will set you back 1500 E.U. denominations. Sitting pretty under the wide rear end is a new sport inspired stainless steel muffler and the Sky Rocket sits about an inch and a half lower to the ground thanks to a new set of springs that work with the factory shocks in order to eliminate the wheel gap between the Scirocco’s wide fenders and 19 by 8 inch multi spoke rims and tires. In order to recreate what you see before you it would cost around 8000 Euro, that’s a pretty penny to pay for a whole lot of style. Maybe if VW decided to sell this car in the U.S. you could spend some of your tax incentive for going green on the kit.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

The times of shaky oil burners are over. But the diesel engine still has a rather stale image. Now JE DESIGN is taking on this prejudice.

The refiner located in Leingarten, Germany enhances the performance of the already agile turbo diesel in the VW Scirocco with an additional control unit by more than twenty-five percent from 140 hp (103 kW) to 180 hp (133 kW). Also the maximum torque increases from 320 to 400 Newton metres at 1,750 to 2,500 r.p.m. respectively. The maximum speed thereby rises from 207 km/h to 213 km/h, and the acceleration from zero to hundred is reduced by 0.9 seconds to 8.4 seconds.

Also for the new 2.0 TDI CR, JE DESIGN offers a performance enhancement of 170 hp (125 kW) to 205 hp (171 kW). With that, the Scirocco then renders a top speed of 229 km/h (serial model: 222 km/h) and accelerates from zero to hundred in 7.1 seconds (serial model: 7.8 seconds). The torque rises to 410 Newton metres (serial model: 350 Nm).

JE DESIGN offers the entire performance pack with assembly for 1,249 euros (180 hp) and 1,449 euros (205 hp) including VAT and adds a 12-month warranty.

In order to adjust the appearance to the newly gained power, JE DESIGN has created an entire body kit. The refiner produces these parts in the usual OEM-quality made of high-quality ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). The CNC-milled material ensures a low weight, perfect fitting accuracy and at the same time, the highest material stability.

The kit for 919 euros including VAT includes a front spoiler with a centre sword in carbon look which already renders a racy glance when the car is still parked. The side skirts with air inlets and a rear skirt attachment which is perfectly adjusted to the other component parts and which is also available in carbon-look renders a powerful profile. A refining kit for gull-wing doors (1,549 euros) completes the body modification.

The muffler made of stainless steel with two central oval end pipes (899 euros) renders an earthy sound and an impressive appearance. The muffler comes with an EU-operating license. The lowering springs (299 euros) which were especially designed for the VW Scirocco, lower the car by 30 millimetres and are combined with serial shock absorbers. In order to fill the wheelhouses adequately, JE DESIGN offers the elegant wheel design Multispoke as a complete wheel set. The wheels are available in the size 8x19 inches in shadow silver (2,810 euros), or graphite matt / with polished edges (2,930 euros), both with 235/35 R 19 tyres.