What's the news?
Volkswagen has revealed its latest outlandish concept for the annual Wörthersee tuning festival in Austria. The GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo is officially a pure concept, though demonstrates the wilder side of Volkswagen's design and engineering departments. The Gran Turismo element refers to the video game, as the GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo is certain to feature in the 'real driving simulator'.
Details are scant at this stage, Volkswagen insiders saying that technically it's much the same as last year's Volkswagen Golf Design Vision GTI hatchback concept, only in roadster guise. That means the rakish, aero-screened machine features a drivetrain more Golf R-derived than its GTI nomenclature would suggest, as it's based on Volkswagen's current MQB platform and features 4Motion four-wheel drive.
Exterior
The loss of its roof makes for an even more dramatic looking concept, the hatchback's shape echoed subtly with bodywork that rises from the rear wing and extends over the rear deck. Behind that a large rear spoiler sits, while the exhaust exits high and centrally via a tip that's more Lamborghini in its design than Volkswagen. That raised exhaust allows for a wilder carbon fibre rear diffuser and the concept also features carbon fibre sills (with GT (for Gran Turismo) logos), a front splitter and rear wing struts.
Interior
Like the hatch, Volkswagen promises the GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo is a rolling, driving concept. Innovative features include seats that form part of the car's structure and a 'double cockpit' carbon-fibre cell surrounding both the driver and passenger. The instrumentation is via a 'floating' screen, while the steering wheel and steering column shape are both inspired by rally cars. The pistol-gripped wheel features fixed paddles for the seven-speed DSG automatic transmission and rotary knobs for secondary functions like lights.
Mechanicals
Power for the striking concept is provided by an even more potent version of the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged VR6 petrol engine of its hatchback predecessor. Output stays the same at 503hp, though torque increases to 665Nm. Volkswagen hasn't given any details on weight, though the hatchback concept was quoted at 3.9 seconds to 0-100km/h. We reckon the Roadster will better its relation over the benchmark sprint.
Behind the GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo's 20-inch wheels are ceramic brakes for stopping power to match its potential performance.
Anything else?
A showcase rather than a signal of production intent, the GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo might be a reality at Wörthersee for a few days. Thereafter it'll exist virtually in the Gran Turismo game.