Volkswagen has pulled the wraps off its Golf GTE Sport concept at this year’s Wörthersee motor show in Austria.
The plug-in hybrid concept is powered by the turbocharged 1.6-litre four cylinder engine from the firm’s Polo R WRC championship-winning car, with two electric motors positioned at each axle. Total outputs are reported to be 395bhp and 495lb ft.
The hybrid power unit is mated to Volkswagen’s six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which helps the Golf GTE Sport concept accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.3sec and go on to a top speed of 174mph.
Combined fuel economy is claimed to be 141.2mpg, while the car is said to be able to cover 31 miles on electric power alone, thanks to its lithium ion battery pack.
The body is made largely of carbonfibre and features doors that open upwards like those of the Volkswagen XL1 concept. Elements of the styling could also preview the next-generation Volkswagen Golf hatchback.
Inside, the cabin is cloaked in more carbonfibre, with the driver's and passenger's bucket seats separated by a large centre console. The racing bucket seats feature five-point harnesses and are positioned quite far back to optimise weight distribution.
Three transparent high-tech displays positioned one behind the other replace a more traditional dial set-up in the instrument panel, with those for speed and current range sited most prominently.
Read our full review on the petrol hybrid Volkswagen Golf GTE
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