Volkswagen ends production of the Scirocco 43 years after it began

The company's German consumer website says (according to Google Translate) that "The Scirocco can no longer be ordered with individual equipment. However, finished, already produced vehicles are available for you."

Even though it's been many years since you could buy a 'Roc in the states, it's a sad and lonely end for the front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe.

The Scirocco, designed by Italian car designer and Automotive Hall of Fame member Georgette Giugiaro, made its debut back in 1974 as a kind of replacement for the Karmann Ghia, VW's second model after the iconic Beetle. The second generation arrived in 1981 and lasted until 1992, when the nameplate was discontinued and replaced by the Corrado. The Scirocco name wouldn't resurface until the Iroc concept in 2006, which eventually morphed back into the third-generation Scirocco for the 2009 model year and beyond.

The final update was the Scirocco R, which came with six engine options (including two diesels) that topped out at a 276-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. Our review of that car in 2014 asked "whether Volkswagen has made the right call by keeping the Scirocco on the other side of the Atlantic."

Given the car's rather circuitous history, there's always a possibility it'll resurface sometime down the line. Here's hoping.