A racing version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI with performance to rival a Lamborghini has been teased ahead of its unveiling at this week’s VW Group show in Worthersee, Austria.
The Volkswagen Golf Design Vision GTI concept builds on the styling and engineering of the all-new Golf GTI Mk7 and explores the popular hot-hatch’s potential as a racecar.
The standard GTI’s 162kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive layout makes way for a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 that produces a whopping 370kW of power and 560Nm of torque.
A dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission sends drive to all four wheels, launching the Design Vision GTI concept from 0-100km/h in a Lamborghini Gallardo-matching 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 300km/h.
Specially designed 20-inch alloys sit at either end of the concept’s substantially enlarged tracks (+57mm front and +63mm rear). Rubber measuring 235/35 at the front and 275/30 at the rear wraps around the wheels, while ceramic discs spanning 380mm front and 356mm rear are gripped by red-painted calipers.
While 15mm shorter and 57mm more hunkered down than the production model, the Design Vision GTI is 71mm wider, giving it a more aggressive, self-assured appearance.
Carbonfibre embraces the sinister new headlights, front blades and lower air intake, and extends to the front splitter, side skirts, rear blades and outlets and the border of the purposeful diffuser.
The minimalist interior is upholstered with carbonfibre, alcantara and nappa leather and focuses attention on the driver.
The steering wheel features shift paddles for the DSG, which can be tuned to ‘Street’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Track’ modes.
The central computer features a race mode that supplies track time data and communicates with other vehicles on the course to provide the driver with real-time race information.
While only a concept, Volkswagen says the Design Vision GTI could potentially start racing tomorrow.
