| The GTI meeting at the picturesque Lake Wörthersee in the Austrian state of Carinthia has turned into the VW Group's annual adoration event. The entire company's top brass, including Ferdinand Piëch, is present on location, embracing the culture surrounding the GTI. This year, VW, Audi, Seat, and Skoda will debut six concepts, and if the past is an indicator, some of the technical and stylistic elements have a good chance of being put into production. The Group's designers and engineers know that this is the perfect opportunity to catch the eye of Piëch. Volkswagen Design Vision GTI Concept The Wörthersee event essentially is a GTI meeting, and it is only fair that VW's own Design Vision GTI takes center stage. With a wider, lower, and shorter body, and an ultra-powerful VR6 engine, it aims to carve out the essence of what the GTI is and could be. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter VR6 makes 503 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque—a level of power that requires an all-wheel-drive system. Sitting on 235-front and 275-rear rubber, the Design Vision GTI features a wide body with distinct sills and C-pillars. Styling elements of this concept could shape future GTI derivatives, such as the mercilessly cold headlights, which seek out obstacles that could impede its 186-mph charge on the left lane of the autobahn. Its VR6, in a detuned state, will be offered in larger VW models. Audi R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer has chosen a technocratic approach to the Wörthersee meeting. The TT Ultra Quattro is not a wild styling exercise, but a showcase of what can be done with an existing platform if every appropriate button is pressed. Audi's engineers have cut 625 pounds from the already relatively lightweight TTS, and upgraded it with a 310-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four. The result is an incredibly agile TT that charges to 62 mph in a claimed 4.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 174 mph. Carbon-fiber elements are exposed inside the concept and out. Seat Leon Cup Racer With aggressive styling and forward-looking technology such as available LED headlights, the compact Leon is designed to spearhead Seat's resurgence. Part of this push is the Spanish manufacturer's comprehensive dive into motorsports. Revealed at this year's Wörthersee festival, the Leon Cup Racer comes in full racing trim, with a roll cage and a stripped interior clad with carbon-fiber components. It is a full 15.7 inches wider than the standard five-door hatchback on which it's based. Power comes from a 330-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four produces maximum twist of 258 lb-ft. The Leon Cup Racer will come in two versions: The entry-level car is fitted with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic and will cost €70,000; another €25,000 will get customers a proper racing sequential transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential. Skoda Rapid Sport The Rapid is Skoda's low-cost offering, and for tuning fans, that's a good thing: It leaves more resources to allocate for go-fast goodies. The VW Group's Czech subsidiary comes to the Wörthersee meeting with a few suggestions, taking the form of 19-inch wheels, wider sills, bigger fenders, a massive front spoiler, and a carbon-fiber rear diffuser that frames the bumper. Inside, The Rapid Sport features Recaro seats and a sport steering wheel. There is no word on powertrain changes, but the Rapid, currently offered with up to 122 horsepower, easily could be enhanced with stronger engines from the Volkswagen Group's parts bin. Volkswagen Power Pickup The not-for-the-U.S. Volkswagen Amarok pickup is a faithful, reliable, and well-executed workhorse. Exciting it isn't, and such pedestrianism isn't tolerated at Wörthersee. So VW's commercial vehicle division used the event as an opportunity to turn its mid-size workhorse into something strong and stylish. The Amarok's fenders have been widened by 2.4 inches, and the truck has been lowered by 3.1 inches. The Power Pickup features a 3.0-liter V-6 TDI turbo-diesel that produces 272 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, which is mated to an eight-speed automatic. Volkswagen says that the powertrain is strong enough to propel the truck to 62 mph in a mere 7.9 seconds. This Amarok's sporting pretensions are underscored by 295/35 tires on 22-inch wheels, a pair of large exhaust outlets, bi-xenon headlights, and darkened LED taillights. The sporty feeling is mirrored inside by racing seats, a wider center console, brushed-aluminum accents, and "carbon leather."
Volkswagen GTI Cabriolet Austria As in past years, a group of Volkswagen apprentices have created their own interpretation of an appropriate Wörthersee vehicle. This year's is especially kind: The color scheme is a nod to the national flag of Austria, the event's host country. Inside and out, this powerful convertible shines in white and red. Other aspects of this GTI cabrio are less kind, such as the powerful 2.0-liter turbo four, which has been tuned to produce a rambunctious 333 horsepower—that's 123 more than the car it's based on. The vehicle is fitted with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, and a 2250-watt, 11-speaker audio system—reflecting the preferences of its 17-to-23-year-old creators.  from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com | |||
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