By: Jason Woosey
Wörthersee, Austria - After delighting GTI fans with the near-production Clubsport, Volkswagen's Wörthersee festival efforts took a more dramatic turn with the unveiling of the Golf GTE Sport concept.
VW describes its creation as a race car and zero emissions vehicle rolled into one and while it's not exactly going to get the polar bears jumping up an down in delight, it can technically travel up to 50km on electric power alone.
As with the tamer Golf GTE showroom model, this concept submits to the best-of-both-worlds plug-in-hybrid trend by combining a 220kW 1.6-litre TSI turbopetrol engine, based on the one in VW's WRC Polo, with two electric motors - one at the front and another at the back.
The result, according to VW, is an all-wheel drive hyper hatch with system outputs of 295kW and 670Nm, allowing for a 4.3-second zero to 100km/h sprint and 280km/h top speed.
Bear in mind that there's a power-to-weight advantage over regular Golfs too as the entire body is made from carbon. In fact, VW insists that the drivetrain, suspension, body and interior all follow the principles of a true sports car.
Entering through XL1-style swing-up doors, you'll find a racing-inspired cabin featuring two separate monocoque-like areas for the driver and passenger, who both sit on racing bucket seats with five-point harnesses.
Facing the driver is a steering wheel fit for Star Wars as well as a three-level digital instrument display and flappy paddles for the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
But is this the ultimate fantasy hatch, or could you imagine better?