Volkswagen is set to unveil a new one-off high-performance Golf GTI at the Worthersee VW event in Austria. Named the Design Vision GTI, the striking new concept is designed to show what a Golf GTI specifically designed for racing could look like.
Underneath, the Design Vision GTI is based on Volkswagen's innovative MQB platform, which is shared by a number of VW Group models, including the standard Golf. However, while the standard Golf GTI is fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot engine, VW's engineers have fitted the Design Vision GTI with something a little more, ahem, potent.
The concept is fitted with a 3.0-litre V6 engine which churns out the not-inconsiderable figure of 496bhp -- 279bhp more than the Golf GTI -- while torque stands at 413lb-ft, 155lb-ft more than the Golf.
The upshot of this is the Design Vision is capable of 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 190mph. The power is sent to all four wheels via a DSG gearbox.
Of course, you can't just stick nearly 500bhp in a Golf without making some fairly radical chassis modifications. VW has lowered and widened the car, and added unique 20-inch alloy wheels with ceramic brakes. These changes, VW claims, mean that the GTI concept is 'capable of handling the most demanding of race tracks.'
The Design Vision's styling is the work of VW's in-house design team, led by design boss Klaus Bischoff. The car is still unmistakeably a Golf; however, the wider track and the bigger wheels give the car a much more aggressive stance. Some of the Golf GTI's signature styling traits have remained, including the honeycomb grille, the black red and white colour scheme and the horizontal red line, but the concept looks altogether more menacing than the production car.
On the inside, the cabin features a bare minimum of switches, all of which are angled towards the driver for optimum control on the track. The cabin uses a black and red colour scheme and features touches of alcantara and carbon-fibre. In addition to this, Volkswagen has dispensed with the car's rear seats, choosing instead to fit an X-shaped cross member, which is designed to increase the car's overall stiffness.
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