Volkswagen will take the wraps off two Golf concepts at this year’s Wörthersee car meet in Maria Wörth, Austria. Both cars are the brainchildren of Volkswagen’s group of young apprentices from the company’s German manufacturing facilities.
Marking a decade of concept cars presented by Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg apprentices at Wörthersee, the aptly named Golf GTI First Decade concept sports an innovative gasoline-electric powertrain that pairs the company’s ubiquitous turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a rear-axle-mounted electric motor. The all-wheel-drive concept offers three drive modes: a front-wheel drive mode that leaves forward momentum to the 402-hp four-cylinder engine and its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, an all-wheel-drive mode that lets the 16-hp rear-mounted electric motor get in on the action, and a rear-wheel-drive mode that allows the concept to drive short distances on electricity alone. Power to the rear motor is supplied by two rear-mounted batteries, and charging is done via the car’s regenerative-braking system. Custom paintwork, a rear spoiler from the GTI Clubsport, and chunky 20-inch wheels separate the GTI First Decade from your typical run-of-the-mill GTI.
Although the powertrain advancements may be the GTI First Decade concept’s most interesting bits, the apprentices dressed the car’s interior with a pair of handmade seats draped in smooth leather and suede that offer massage functions for occupants of both front seats. All seat adjustments are made via a custom mobile application. Meanwhile, the rear seats have been tossed entirely. In their place sits the two batteries and various electronics for the electric motor, as well as key parts of the concept’s deafening 1690-watt stereo system.
Volkswagen will also show off the Golf GTE Estate ImpulsE concept. Unlike the production Golf GTE, which relies on an 8.8-kWh battery pack, the ImpulsE concept relies on a chunky 16.8-kWh pack that Volkswagen claims doubles the model’s all-electric range. When the production GTE was formally announced, Volkswagen stated the model had a 31-mile range on the notoriously optimistic European cycle. Volkswagen made no mention of changes to the ImpulsE concept’s powertrain, meaning the concept likely shares a 148-hp turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four and a 100-hp electric motor with the production GTE.
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While the Golf GTI First Decade and GTE Estate ImpulsE concepts may be the only two Volkswagen concepts created by apprentices at this year’s Wörthersee meet, they won’t be the only concepts on display by Volkswagen at the famous Austrian show. The brand will also formally unveil the Up! GTI concept.
Despite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg's career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend.
