One of the best hatchbacks of all time, and probably the most renowned, is the Volkswagen Golf, a car we’ve been seeing since 1974. The VW Golf GTI is in my opinion the best hot hatch the world has ever seen, from the Mark I model to the WR32 of today. It is now time for a drastic change – the Design Vision GTI concept is here with its beasty 503 HP.
It has premiered on the occasion of the Worthersee Festival in Reifnitz, Austria, this stunningly beautiful concept car is reportedly based on the VW Golf Mark VII, developing a dazzling 503 HP and being able to reach a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph). With an exterior that appears to be shorter, lower and more robust than its more docile siblings, this car has been fitted with 20-inch rims and wrapped in 235 series tires at the front and massive 275 series at the rear.
In a rather fantastic manner, this Design Vision GTI is very much alike its brothers, but drastically distinct at the same time. Volkswagen’s Head of Design himself, Klaus Bischoff, states that the concept allowed his team to stretch its creative talents and present a vision of the GTI for the next four generations. The C-pillars space out has been pulled away from this particular model with the sole purpose for it to be able to accommodate the wider track while sharing that aggressive figure. At the front, sleek, sharp blades aid to the visual merge of Design Vision’s body with the front end of the regular GTI Golf, resulting in a discrete reminder of the GTI.
Under the bonnet, VW specialists have mounted a very special engine – a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that generates 503 HP at 6,500 RPM and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of torque at 4,000 RPM – these figures ensure an impressive top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph). To cope with this level of muscle, the Design Vision GTI was fitted with an all-wheel-drive transmission system similar to the WR32, a very fast DSG gearbox and specially modified chassis. Thanks to all these, the Design Vision GTI is able to spring from naught to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.9 seconds, while the braking system consists of carbon ceramic discs measuring 14 inches at the rear and 15 inches at the front.
The cabin contrasts with the exterior in a rather splendid and elegant manner, with VW having drastically reduced the number of switches for an exaggeratedly minimalistic theme. There are controls for hazard lights, on-board camera and heating on the upper section of the console, while the steering wheel was equipped with a push-button for the fire extinguisher, electric kill switch and ESP deactivator button. There are bits of carbon fiber spread all over the interior, alongside touches of Alcantara, red and black Nappa leather, as well as anthracite. The rear seats were discarded and replaced with an x-shaped cross member to provide more rigidity. The cross member also fastens up two racing helmets.
For the track, the Design Vision GTI boasts a very helpful display to the right of the gauges, providing multiple info on the circuit mapping and lap times. There’s also the ability for the driver to communicate with other racers and to share track or interior videos through strategically placed cameras via a GTI communication system. According to VW, there are no plans on further developing this model, but it’s all just inscrutable if you ask us.
[Gizmag]
