Volkswagen has unveiled a new concept car at Lake Worthersee in Austria. The Golf GTE Sport has carbon body, completely new cockpit design, an “electric propshaft” and a 400 PS plug-in hybrid drivetrain demonstrating what is possible when designers and engineers catapult the GT idea a long way into the future.
Five key facts on the Golf GTE Sport:
Powered by a 400 PS plug-in hybrid system
Bridges the gap between road cars and racing sport cars
Avant-garde exterior design perfects the idea of C-pillars with two-level construction
Debuts with digital instruments arranged on three levels and tailored to motor racing
Accelerates to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of up to 174 mph
Presented as a world premiere at the historic GTI event at Lake Worthersee, Volkswagen is catapulting the GT tradition into the future. The high-tech Golf that is largely made of carbon-fibre is powered by a total of three motors – combined in a plug-in hybrid drive with system power of 295 kW / 400 PS.
According to VW, the concept car breaks down traditional barriers between road and motorsport vehicles. Its hybrid system in combination with the all-wheel drive, a lightweight body, optimum aerodynamic downforce, precision running gear based on the design of the current Golf GTE, a new motor racing cockpit and an unusual seating concept enable breathtaking performance on the racetrack.
A 1.6 litre TSI engine adapted from the Polo World Rally Car is assisted by two electric motors positioned at the front and at the rear. Whenever possible, the concept car is powered solely by electricity without producing any emissions. In sporty “GTE mode” all three motors work together, giving the Golf GTE Sport a 0-100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 280 km/h. At the press of a button, however, the concept car is able to cover a distance of up to 50 kilometres on electric power alone and hence with zero emissions.
Newspress
