VW apprentices prep Golf GTI Dark Shine, Variant Biturbo for Worthersee

VW apprentices prep Golf GTI Dark Shine, Variant Biturbo for WortherseeImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: Volkswagen        Image Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: VolkswagenImage Credit: Volkswagen2015 Golf GTIMSRP$24,785ShopReviewsMore PhotosVolkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport Concept Hottest Cars and Trucks in AmericaMost Popular Cars By StateOur Picks For The Best $5,000 Used CarsCars That Depreciate FastestHistory's 10 Best Selling Cars Of All TimeNoah Joseph

Volkswagen not only cooks up some pretty tempting concepts of its own for the GTI-Treffen at Wörthersee every year (and encourages its sister brands to do the same), but also gives its apprentices the opportunity to do it. And here's what they came up with this year.

Called the GTI Dark Shine edition, the show car features an upgraded 2.0-liter turbo four, pumping out 389 horsepower and 359 pound-feet of torque through its dual-clutch transmission. But that's not all. As you can see, it also has a striking two-tone livery of metallic gray and yellow pearl, along with a stainless steel exhaust, carbon air box, an upgraded aero kit, a 3,500-watt audio system with eight speakers and a thoroughly reworked interior done up to match the bodywork in black Alcantara and carbon leather with yellow trim.

The team of 13 apprentices built the show car from a body-in-white over the course of nine months. It follows in a long line of GTI concepts done each year by VW apprentices that stretches back to 2008. This year, however, another team of 14 interns at the plant in Zwickau, Germany, worked up a blue Golf Variant wagon called the Biturbo Edition with the twin-turbo diesel from the Passat good for 236 hp and 368 lb-ft. Another team in the Czech Republic was responsible for the Fabia FUNstar pickup concept. And of course the automakers themselves showcased the radical Golf GTE Sport, GTI Clubsport, Skoda Fabia Combi R5 and Audi TT Clubsport.

Show full PR textThe lake is calling ... world premiere: Volkswagen apprentices present their Golf GTI Dark Shine at Wörthersee event
- Other show car premieres: Golf Variant Biturbo Edition (Zwickau) and ŠKODA FUNstar (Mladá Boleslav)

They have followed the call of the lake: 13 Wolfsburg apprentices from Volkswagen and group company Sitech Sitztechnik have traveled to the 34th Wörthersee GTI meeting today to present their 395 PS (290 kW) Golf GTI Dark Shine to the public for the first time. Their sporty two-door Golf features a two-tone color scheme. The front is painted in dark Daytona Grey Metallic and the rear in unique R-yellow pearl effect – giving rise to the name "Dark Shine".

The Golf GTI Dark Shine is impressive confirmation of the high-quality practically oriented training provided by Volkswagen. From the initial idea to today's world premiere at Reifnitz with an estimated audience of 150,000 car enthusiasts, the budding vehicle paint technicians (2), vehicle interior fitters (4), automotive mechatronics technicians (4), media designers (1) and process technicians specializing in plastics and rubber engineering (2) planned almost every step themselves, exchanged ideas, tried them out and realized the best. The 17 to 25-year-olds developed considerable specialist knowledge and skills. The four women and nine men grew into a strong team; Dr. Stefan Kreher, Head of Volkswagen Vocational Training, and project manager Holger Schülke are proud of them.

"By working on the Wörthersee GTI project, our apprentices learn about the complexity of automobile production," says Kreher. During the creation of their dream GTI, our budding specialists cooperated with experts from a variety of different professional families. Kreher: "The project offers especially talented young people an opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues from the entire company at an early stage."

Last fall, the 13 apprentices received a body in white in Wolfsburg; over a period of about nine months, they then made optical and technical modifications to create their dream GTI on the basis of the standard Golf GTI Performance1 in line with their own ideas. The modified 2.0-litre TSI engine develops 395 PS (290 kW). Maximum torque of 487 Newton-meters is available at 4,700 rpm. The stainless steel exhaust system with enlarged tailpipe trims is hand-crafted. The unique GTI also features a carbon air box. The intercooler and the control units for the engine and the DSG dual-clutch gearbox have been specially adapted.

As regards the appearance of their show car, the team members selected an expressive two-tone color scheme. The front of the car is painted in Daytona Grey Metallic and the rear in R-yellow pearl effect, creating a dark-bright contrast between front and rear. Two offset arrow-shaped R-yellow pearl effect stripes run over the bonnet and to the rear third of the roof. At the rear of the roof, up to the roof spoiler, these stripes are then painted in Daytona Grey Metallic, contrasting with the roof itself. In addition, stripes and arrows on the side of the vehicle provide accents. The "Dark Shine" is entirely hand-painted, and was sanded down and polished several times to ensure a perfect paint finish with smooth transitions.

Many details in the interior take up the color scheme: the leather upholstery of the Recaro bucket seats and the bench rear seat is painted grey using a tone identical to the Daytona Grey exterior color. The central sections are covered in titanium black Alcantara and the side bolsters of the seats and backrests are covered in black carbon leather. In contrast, the GTI logos on the backrest of the bucket seats and the single or double felled seams are yellow. The bucket seats are also surrounded by restrained yellow piping. The multi-function steering wheel is covered in titanium black Alcantara, with the 12 o'clock marking, seams and spokes set off in R-yellow, together with the surrounds and needles of the instrument cluster.

At the Wörthersee horsepower festival, a high-performance sound system is also essential. The unique GTI features a high-end audio system with a total output of 3,500 Watts. Eight speakers in the passenger compartment and three subwoofers in the rear deliver sound that is both powerful and crystal clear. The central subwoofer is lit by LEDs and partially glassed in. The amplifier, which also features lighting, is recessed in the floor of the trunk under a glass cover. The sound system can be controlled from a tablet computer.

Since 2008, Volkswagen has offered its best apprentices the opportunity to expand their specialist knowledge and to demonstrate their creativity and teamwork capabilities on projects like the Wörthersee GTI. The Golf GTI Dark Shine is the eighth apprentice GTI to make its world debut in Reifnitz. Its predecessors were also attractions at other public events such as the IdeenExpo in Hanover.

The Wörthersee GTI cars created by apprentice teams from Wolfsburg to date are:
Golf GTI Performance (2008), Golf GTI Street (2009), Golf GTI Yellow Pearl (2010), Golf GTI Reifnitz (2011), Golf GTI Black Dynamic (2012), Golf GTI Cabrio Austria (2013), Golf GTI Wolfsburg Edition (2014), Golf GTI Dark Shine (2015).

The members of the Wörthersee Team 2015 by training vocations are:
Vehicle interior fitters: Alexander Giesbrecht (25), Kay-Vivian Erhardt (17) – both Volkswagen, Alexander Roser (19) and Jana Peil (20) – both Sitech Sitztechnik. Vehicle paint technicians: Celine Raditsch (20), Darius Pesel (19). Automotive mechatronics technicians: André Haase (23), Samuel Pili (21), Jan Quiring (19), Julian Lucht (21). Media designer: Hendryk Riedel (20). Process technicians specializing in plastics and rubber engineering: Melina Svoboda (19), Sebastian Del Giudice (22).

Sitech Sitztechnik is the Volkswagen group company specializing in the development and production of vehicle seats.

Other studies making their debut at the Wörthersee meeting
At the 34th GTI meeting, apprentices from the Zwickau vehicle plant (Volkswagen Sachsen) and Mladá Boleslav (ŠKODA) also presented their own show cars. These studies demonstrate the creativity, performance, team spirit, craftsmanship and technical abilities of Volkswagen Group apprentices.

The Golf Variant Biturbo Edition: The technical highlight of this show car is a 240 PS (176 kW) 2-litre biturbo diesel engine with 4Motion four-wheel drive and maximum torque of 500 Newton-meters. The engine was "borrowed" from the new Passat Variant 2.0 TDI 4Motion². The 14 apprentices from Zwickau were the first to install this engine on a Golf Variant. The interior design is adapted to harmonize with the special paintwork in Alor blue with decor strips in Deep Black pearl effect. Following the GTI meeting, the "Biturbo Edition" will be on show at other locations, for example at the opening of an extended exhibition at the August Horch Museum in Zwickau.

The ŠKODA FUNstar from Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic): At the Wörthersee meeting, ŠKODA apprentices are presenting a pickup based on the ŠKODA Fabia3. The ŠKODA FUNstar drives up on 18-inch 'Gemini' alloys and combines a 1.2 TSI petrol engine with 122 PS (90 kW) and a modern seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It features steel grey and moon white metallic paintwork, elaborate LED technology and striking contrasts in reflex green.

1 Golf GTI Performance: fuel consumption (super) in l/100 km: 8.1 – 7.5 (urban) / 5.4 – 5.1 (extra urban) / 6.4 – 6.0 (combined); CO2 emissions in g/km: 149 - 139 (combined), efficiency class: D, C
2 Passat Variant 2,0 TDI 4Motion: fuel consumption (diesel) in l/100km: 6.5 (urban), 4.7 (extra urban), 5.4 (combined), CO2 emissions in g/km: 140, efficiency class: B.
3 The new ŠKODA Fabia: fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6.1 – 3.9 (urban), 4.2 – 3.1 (extra urban), 4.8 – 3.4 (combined), CO2 emissions in g/km: 110 - 88 (combined), efficiency class C-A+.
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Volkswagen Golf GTE Sport Concept debuts at Worthersee

Volkswagen Golf GTE Sport Concept debuts at Worthersee396-HP Plug-In Hybrid "Bridges The Gap Between Road Cars And Racing Sport Cars"2015 GolfMSRP$19,295ShopReviewsMore PhotosVW Golf In Autostadt2015 Volkswagen Golf GTD Variant: Geneva 20152015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen2015 Volkswagen Golf GTD VariantVolkswagen Golf SportWagen and Passat HyMotion2015 Volkswagen GolfSteven J. Ewing

Do you like hot Volkswagens? So do we. And that's why the annual Wörthersee festival in Austria is a treat. It's where the Volkswagen Group shows off some performance-minded concept cars, like the GTI Clubsport or the 600-horsepower Audi TT. But VW wants to show that it's possible to increase performance while still maintaining some eco-friendly dignity. And that's where this striking Golf GTE Sport Concept comes in.

The concept is powered by a three-motor plug-in hybrid system. There's a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four up front, with electric motors mounted at each axle. Total output is said to be 396 horsepower, which is enough to move the all-wheel-drive hatch to 62 miles per hour in 4.3 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 174 mph. It can drive under full electric power, act as a traditional hybrid, or go into full "GTE" mode, where the engine and both motors are on full assault.

Its styling is definitely forward-thinking, with angles and creases abound. But it still retains that signature Golf C-pillar design, with a two-tier adaptation first seen on the outrageous GTI W12-650 concept from 2007. The body is largely constructed from carbon fiber and has doors that swing forward and up (think BMW i8). Volkswagen says the Golf GTE Sport Concept "bridges the gap between road cars and racing sport cars."

That's evident inside the car, too. There's a rakish dashboard with a three-tier instrument display setup, and a very aggressive cockpit design for the two-seat cabin. Five-point seatbelts on each chair and a racing-inspired steering wheel really drive home the performance mindset of this concept.

There's a lot more to learn in the detailed press release below. Check it out, but not before scrolling through the image gallery above. This one's certainly a looker.

Show full PR textWorld premiere of the Golf GTE Sport: Plug-in hybrid sports car catapults the GT idea to the future

- Lightweight and high-strength body of the Golf GTE Sport is made of carbon

- Concept car with a top speed of 280 km/h is a zero emission vehicle and a race car in one

Five key facts about the Golf GTE Sport:
1. Golf GTE Sport is powered by a 295 kW / 400 PS plug-in hybrid system
2. Progressive Golf GTE Sport bridges the gap between road cars and racing sport cars
3. Avant-garde exterior design of the Golf GTE Sport perfects the idea of C-pillars with two-level construction
4. Golf GTE Sport debuts with digital instruments arranged on three levels and tailored to motor racing
5. Golf GTE Sport accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of up to 280 km/h on the racetrack

Wolfsburg / Reifnitz, May 2015. Ringing in a new era: with the Golf GTE Sport presented as a world premiere at the legendary GTI event at Lake Wörthersee on 14 May 2015, Volkswagen is catapulting the GT tradition into the future. The high-tech Golf that is largely made of carbon is powered by a total of three motors – combined in a plug-in hybrid drive with system power of 295 kW / 400 PS. The concept car breaks down traditional barriers between road and motorsport vehicles. Its progressive hybrid system in combination with the high-tech all-wheel drive, a lightweight body, optimum aerodynamic downforce, precision running gear based on the design of the current Golf GTE, a new motor racing cockpit (including visualisation of the racing line) and an unusual seating concept (two monocoque-like interior areas) enable breathtaking performance on the racetrack. At the press of a button, however, the concept car is able to cover a distance of up to 50 kilometres on electric power alone and hence with zero emissions.

Drive system from motorsport and research

World Rally Car TSI engine. The 1.6 litre TSI (turbocharged direct-injection engine) adapted from the superb Polo R WRC (World Rally Car) is accommodated in the engine compartment at the front of the car. It delivers 220 kW / 299 PS and maximum torque of 400 Nm. Volkswagen has already won the World Rally Championship twice with this engine. In the Golf GTE Sport the four-cylinder masterpiece is assisted by two electric motors. The engineers positioned the first electric motor at the front (in the housing of the 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox). It develops 85 kW / 115 PS and maximum torque of 330 Nm. The second electric motor is located at the rear with the same power output but torque of 270 Nm. The total torque of the drive system is 670 Nm. Whenever possible, the concept car is powered solely by electricity without producing any emissions. In sporty "GTE mode" all three motors work together, giving the all-wheel-drive Golf GTE Sport a standstill to 100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 280 km/h. In the NEDC cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles the sports car consumes just 2.0 l/100 km/h.

Pure-bred sports car.

Balanced for the Nürburgring north loop. The concept of the Golf GTE Sport has been designed so that the car is at home in both normal road traffic and racetrack conditions. Accordingly, the drive, suspension, body and interior all follow the principle of a pure-bred sports car. The drive system offers maximum agility, the suspension displays maximum neutrality in interaction with the all-wheel drive, the carbon body is lightweight and with its balanced aerodynamics it virtually adheres to the road. The driver ergonomics bridge the gap to motor racing, and with optimum weight distribution and a low centre of gravity the overall package ensures that a lap around racetracks such as the north loop of the Nürburgring is a unique driving experience.

Interior rings in a new sports car era

Two-seater race car. The driver and passenger board the two-seater interior of the Golf GTE Sport through doors that swing right up in the style of the XL 1. The doors extend a long way up into the roof and down into the side sills, resulting in convenient boarding when they are opened upwards. The interior in carbon and microfibre consists of two completely separate areas for the driver and passenger. Like in motorsport vehicles, they sit quite a long way to the back on racing bucket seats with five-point belts. Accordingly, the steering column that is entirely clad in carbon projects a long way into the interior where it appears to float – a further characteristic feature of a rally car or touring-car racer. The functional elements are operated via controllers and buttons in the cocoon-like interior trim. The gearbox of the Golf GTE Sport can also be operated manually with shift paddles on the motorsport steering wheel.

Instruments on three levels. The instruments featuring a completely new design have been specially coordinated for the configuration of the driver's workspace. The Volkswagen interface designers opted for three transparent displays arranged behind one another on which all relevant information is displayed. On the smallest display at the front (closest to the driver) information such as the selected gear and the recuperation status is displayed; information that is only sporadically checked from the corner of the eye whilst driving. The centre display has secondary yet more complex information such as the power currently delivered by the drive (power meter) and the boost intensity of the plug-in system (electric boost). Information such as the current speed and the range are constantly in the driver's field of vision on the third and largest display. In addition, in "GTE mode" not only is the current lap displayed (e.g. 9 of 16), but there is also a virtual indicator of the ideal driving line – valuable assistance for safe and fast driving on complex racetracks such as the aforementioned Nürburgring north loop.

Ergonomic perfection. The clearly arranged multifunction switch for starting and stopping the hybrid drive and controlling the 6-speed DSG is ideally positioned to the right of the driver for easy access. Right next to it there is a control panel for further vehicle functions; these include a button for activating a fire extinguishing system similar to that used in motorsport. Furthermore, the passenger is also supplied with data via a display in his interior segment. In "Info Mode" the current speed, the gear currently engaged and the engine speed can be displayed. If the passenger switches to "Data Mode" he can call up the vehicle acceleration and lateral force figures (g- forces). It is not only the use of carbon, but rather a general lightweight design that saves weight in the interior. For example, the loops for opening the doors are made of the same synthetic fibre as the five-point belts. Moreover, extremely elaborate ergonomics prevail in every detail. The operating mode switch for selecting "E- Mode", "GTE-Mode" or "Hybrid-Mode", for example, is situated in the roof, like in a jet plane.

Body design and concept

Extremely lightweight. The body of the Golf GTE Sport is largely made of lightweight carbon. As both a brand and a group, Volkswagen is a trailblazer in the industrial use of this material. For example, like the exterior of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, the body of the Volkswagen XL1 is also made of carbon. The high-strength carbon body of the Golf GTE Sport therefore weighs much less than a comparable steel body.

Side profile. The design concept of the Golf GTE Sport manifests itself in the car's striking silhouette. Here, Volkswagen is continuing the idea of C-pillars with a two-level design originating from the 2007 Golf GTI W12-650, which has been constantly further perfected in various concept cars. On the Golf GTE Sport that is now being presented, this C-pillar concept, which is unique worldwide, has reached a degree of perfection that allows it to leave the show car stage and – as a design vision – bridge the gap to the Golf GT models of the future. The basic styling of these pillars (like the string of a bow taut with an arrow) follows the unmistakable Golf design, but at the same time feature some completely new C-pillar details: behind the level visible from outside a second one opens up. The airstream flows between these two levels and is contributing to the aerodynamic downforce and to the cooling of the rear brake system. Stylistically, this concept means that the rear section (like the front section) is extremely wide. By contrast, the passenger cell between the A-pillar and the interior part of the C-pillar becomes narrower when viewed from the front to the rear – an avant-garde interplay of extremely powerful shapes.

Doors and sills fold upwards. As described, the concept car painted in pearlescent "White Club" has two gullwing doors that swing forwards. The upper part that extends a long way into the roof is entirely made of dark visible carbon. A large part of the side sill is integrated in the door cutout. The three-dimensional body of the sill is enhanced at the top in the door section with an area in dark visible carbon. Further features on the side profile in visible carbon are the door mirror caps, the door window frames and the lower sill area. This part of the sill is designed as a splitter, i.e. a thin and sharp aerodynamic element, a feature familiar in motorsport. The side sill is framed by the new 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with tyres in format 235 at the front and 275 at the rear.

Front. With the front section of the Golf GTE Sport the Volkswagen design team is impressively illustrating how the Golf GT models could develop in future. On the concept car, the designers removed the striking blue radiator grille line of the Golf GTE production model from the grille and positioned it below the bonnet as a blue crossbar running across the whole width of the front. Below it, three further crossbars in black chrome look extend across the centre air inlet. The high-gloss black air inlet grille itself has the honeycomb structure typical of GT models. A further air inlet below the crossbars is framed at the top and to the sides by a striking aerodynamic element (also made of carbon). A double spoiler, also designed as a splitter, rounds off the front. Here, too, carbon is used.

LED headlights and daytime running lights. All electric and plug- in hybrid models from Volkswagen have C-shaped LED daytime running lights as a distinctive feature, and the Golf GTE Sport is no exception. Here, they frame the whole radiator grille unit at the sides, and in the top area there is an almost seamless transition from the LED daytime running lights to the extremely narrow and sharp LED headlights.

Rear. Never before has Volkswagen realised such a charismatic and sporty rear for a Golf. Here, too, the two levels of the C-pillars are a defining stylistic feature giving the Golf GTE Sport a very wide and powerful appearance from the rear. The extended outer levels of the C-pillars at the rear – like the tail unit of an aeroplane – elongate the car together with the large roof spoiler. Typically Golf: the striking tailgate with a vertical downward angle at the level of the redesigned LED rear lights. At the top, the tailgate is limited by a black carbon roof spoiler – a wing that seems to hover in front of the tailgate at a distance of a few millimetres to the roof. The C-pillars that taper at an angle to the rear and the bumper merge into one another, with the latter projecting far above the line of the tailgate. As an imaginary continuation of the side strip made of visible carbon (above the sill), the top edge of the bumper also features visible carbon. Below this is an area painted in the body colour (with air outlets on the outside). The last level is a large diffuser made of visible carbon with the splitter that is also continued here. The round stainless steel trims of the twin-pipe exhaust system are integrated in the middle of the diffuser.

Drive – plug-in hybrid and electric propshaft

E-Mode – setting off on electric power. No Golf has ever had three motors before. But this one does. As described at the beginning, the combustion engine fitted by Volkswagen is a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder direct-injection engine (TSI) that produces 220 kW / 299 PS of power and a maximum torque of 400 Nm. The electric components consist of the lithium-ion battery and two electric motors. The front electric motor is integrated in the housing of the 6- speed DSG (DQ400E). Both electric motors have a power output of 85 kW. The total available system power is 295 kW / 400 PS. If necessary, the system drive power can be distributed to all four wheels thanks to the rear electric motor and an "electric propshaft". In normal operation the Golf GTE Sport drives just as quietly as the production Golf GTE that is already marketed. In "E-Mode" it is setting off purely electrically. In this case the concept car uses the battery that can be charged externally (but also whilst driving) to cruise without producing any emissions. It can cover up to 50 kilometres on a battery charge. When a defined minimum battery charge is reached, the 1.6 TSI is automatically switched on and the Golf GTE Sport drives in "Hybrid" mode. As soon as the battery reaches a certain charge level again, "E-Mode" can be reactivated at any time via a switch in the overhead console. In "E-Mode", the rear axle electric motor is first and foremost responsible for propulsion. When high demands are made on performance, the front electric motor is also activated to provide support.

Hybrid mode – silent coasting. As soon as the drive system or the driver deactivates "E-Mode", the Golf GTE Sport becomes a classic full hybrid with regenerative braking charging the battery and automatic utilisation of the right combination of TSI and/or electric motors according to the specific drive situation. When the driver releases the accelerator pedal, and the battery is sufficiently charged, all drive sources are shut off. This is referred to as "coasting". If the driver releases the accelerator pedal or brakes, and the battery is insufficiently charged, the two electric motors operate as generators and charge the lithium-ion battery with the energy recovered from braking. With the dual mode "Battery Hold" or "Battery Charge" the battery's energy content can be deliberately kept constant by the driver ("Hold") or increased ("Charge"). When the 1.6 TSI engine is the sole source of propulsion, the concept car is a pure front-wheel drive car.

GTE-Mode – the power of three hearts. The switch on board the Golf GTE Sport that is most important for dynamic performance is located in the overhead console. It bears the letters "GTE". When the driver operates this switch, the character of the Golf GTE Sport's drivetrain changes drastically in an instant because now the full system power of 400 PS is available. The turbocharged 299 PS petrol engine alone delivers immense propulsive power, and at this high level the electric drive components of the Golf GTE Sport assume an additional boost function. The boost effect is so strong that the drive unit would also perform well if used in professional touring car races: the Golf GTE Sport sprints to 50 km/h in 1.8 seconds, reaches 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, and the maximum speed permitted in Austria, i.e. 130 km/h, in 6.5 seconds. On German motorways, the concept car reaches 200 km/h in 15.9 seconds. In "GTE-Mode" all four wheels of the Golf are driven.

All-wheel drive – "electric propshaft". In "GTE-Mode" and as soon as the situation necessitates it, the drive power of the Golf GTE Sport is distributed to both axles. In this case (and if battery charge is low), the front electric motor – which is now being supplied with kinetic energy via the TSI – acts solely as a generator and a source of electricity for its counterpart at the rear axle. Since the energy for driving the rear axle flows by wire and not mechanically here, this is referred to as an "electric propshaft". Because the TSI drives the rear electric motor via the front electric motor, the all-wheel drive system also operates when the battery's charge state is low – an invaluable advantage in terms of driving dynamics. The importance of the implementation of the "electric propshaft" for Volkswagen with regard to series production is demonstrated by the fact that the company has had the German equivalent of this designation protected under copyright law.Featured Gallery

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Audi bringing TT Clubsport Turbo concept to Worthersee

Audi bringing TT Clubsport Turbo concept to WortherseeImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: Audi2015 TTMSRP$43,350ShopReviewsMore Photos1982 Audi Quattro A1 Group B ex-Hannu Mikkola1985 Audi Sport Quattro2015 Audi R18 e-tron QuattroAudi TT Concepts1984 Audi Sport Quattro: RM Arizona 2015Audi Sport TT CupNoah Joseph

Is the world ready for an Audi TT with 600 horsepower? Well it had better be, because that's exactly what Ingolstadt has in store for this year's GTI-Treffen at Worthersee, Austria.

Billed as a "technology concept," this TT show car packs a 2.5-liter inline-five with two electric turbochargers. Audi is developing electric turbos for its diesel engines, but has found a performance application here in a gasoline engine. The result is a whopping 600 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, driving all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Weighing in at 3,078 pounds and with those electric turbos spooling up quick, it's said to reach 62 in 3.6 seconds en route to a top speed of over 192 miles per hour. In a TT.

The turbos are powered by a 48-volt electrical system, juiced by a compact lithium-ion battery in the trunk that can store regenerated power. It's also got a coilover suspension and electric jack to get over obstacles like curbs and speed bumps. The whole thing rides on 20-inch alloys with a two-tone finish, with carbon-ceramic discs to keep it all in check, and as you can see, a rather aggressive-looking widebody aero kit. All of which makes for a rather stunning concept, even if its encroachment on the R8 means it will likely never see production.

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Show full PR textIngolstadt/Reifnitz, 2015-05-08
Tremendous thrust right from the start:
the Audi TT clubsport turbo technology concept car

- Premiere at Wörthersee: show car has 2.5 TFSI and electric biturbo
- 441 kW (600 hp) and 650 Nm (479.4 lb-ft), 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.6 seconds
- Development chief Prof. Dr. Hackenberg: "Technology close to production readiness"

Wide add-on parts, a powerful rear wing and a power output of 441 kW (600 hp) – the Audi TT clubsport turbo impresses with its power and design. From May 13 to 16, Audi will be showing its technology concept car on the Wörthersee Tour in the Austrian town of Reifnitz. The inspiration for the show car came from the successful Audi 90 IMSA GTO of the late 1980s. A new technology is making its debut under the hood. The car's electric biturbo adds even more dynamism to the driving experience with its spontaneous response.

"The electric biturbo signifies a new dimension in driving enjoyment; it boosts sprinting ability and torque and enables high peak power," explains Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development. "In our TDI engines, we are close to production readiness with this technology. We are now presenting it in a TFSI – here too, we are the first automaker in the world to do this. For our fans at Wörthersee, we have packaged the electric biturbo in a very sporty show car."

The Audi TT clubsport turbo has a power-boosted 2.5 TFSI engine with very impressive performance data. From 2,480 cc of displacement, the five-cylinder engine produces 441 kW (600 hp) of power and 650 Nm (479.4 lb-ft) of torque, the latter from 3,000 to 7,000 rpm. This means that it produces 176 kW (240 hp) and 260 Nm (191.8 lb-ft) per liter of displacement. Power is transferred via a manual six-speed transmission.

Thanks to systematic lightweight design, the TT clubsport turbo show car has an unladen weight of just 1,396 kg (3,077.7 lb). The car completes the standard sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.6 seconds, and its top speed is 310 km/h (192.6 mph). The TT clubsport turbo plays out its big advantage over the first few meters of a sprint. Its electrically driven compressor lets it cover up to 16 meters (52.5 ft) within the first 2.5 seconds – which is six meters (19.7 ft) further than a comparable car without this innovation. That is a difference of around one and one-half car lengths.

Electric thrust: Additional compressor fills turbo hole
An electrically powered compressor offers significant advantages: It revs up to maximum rpm rapidly and without any perceptible delay, and it continues to boost charge pressure when too little drive energy is left in the exhaust gas for the conventional turbocharger. This operating principle makes it possible to design the conventional turbocharger more specifically for high charge pressures and consequently for high engine power – the e-turbo assures spontaneous response and powerful sprints from low engine speeds at all times.

The effect is impressive. The 2.5 TFSI engine builds up its tremendous power without any perceptible delay. This power is available in any situation – whenever the accelerator pedal is pressed. In an acceleration duel, the TT clubsport turbo effortlessly pulls away from a counterpart with an identically powered engine but no electric biturbo.

Energy storage: the 48‑volt electrical system
However, it is not just the power of the five-cylinder engine that is fascinating – so is its unmistakable throaty sound. The exhaust system is designed for minimal back-pressure; a side pipe to the ambient air is located immediately after the racing-type muffler. The 2.5 TFSI engine is cooled by a racing-type radiator. In the lower engine speed range, the electrically driven compressor boosts torque by up to 200 Nm (147.5 lb-ft). A dedicated 48‑volt electrical sub-system – another key future technology from Audi – supplies electrical energy to the turbocharger. A compact lithium-ion battery in the luggage compartment stores the energy that is generated by recuperation when coasting. A DC/DC converter provides the connection to the 12‑volt electrical system.

The power of the Audi TT clubsport turbo reaches the road impressively via a quattro permanent all-wheel drive system whose multi-plate clutch is mounted on the rear axle for better weight distribution. A coilover suspension system enables highly precise adjustment of the body's ride height and the compression and rebound of the shock absorbers. An electric lifting function protects the equipment from damage by street curbs. Electronic stabilization control (ESC) and torque vectoring round out the dynamic qualities of the suspension ideally.

The show car's wheels are size 9.5 J x 20. Their six twin-spoke design is finished in a bi-color look – both gloss turn finished and matt black – and the tires are size 275/30. Carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs are mounted behind all four wheels; they are very lightweight and wear-resistant. The front brake discs measure 370 mm (14.6 in) in diameter.

Widened 14 cm (5.5 in): spectacular add-on parts
The compact sports car takes a full stance on the road with track widths of 1,736 mm (68.3 in) in front and 1,729 mm (68.1 in) at the rear. The car is 4.33 meters (14.2 ft) long and 1.97 meters (6.5 ft) wide, including the side mirrors – 14 cm (5.5 in) wider than the technical platform upon which it was based. Its angular fenders contribute a separate additive shape to the car body. They take the characteristic design motif of the Audi TT* to an extreme and accentuate the distribution of engine power to all four wheels – the quattro drive. The fenders of the show car – painted in the exterior color Ferro Titanium – are open at the front and rear. Air from the car's slipstream flows through them to cool the brakes. The Singleframe grille and large air inlets – whose vertical fins form a continuation to the light signature of the Matrix LED headlights – are also optimized for maximum air throughput.

The manually adjustable rear wing is an advanced development of the Audi Sport TT Cup with which the brand very recently launched a dedicated race series. It is now 20 cm (7.9 in) wider, and the side flaps, which feature the four rings, were given a new geometry. The wing consists of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRF) as do all other add-on parts: the air inlets and the large splitter at the front, the side panels and side sill trims as well as the voluminous diffuser at the rear whose lateral segments reference the motif of the air inlets.

The interior: fully focused on sporty drivers
A protective "cage" of ultra-high-strength titanium tubes makes the rear zone of the interior even more rigid and safe. In front, there are lightweight race car bucket seats with four-point harnesses. The display and operating concept with the digital Audi virtual cockpit focuses on the driver, who can control all key driving parameters via four satellite buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.

Sporty materials such as CFRP and black Alcantara define the interior of the Audi TT clubsport turbo. The race seats are upholstered in coral orange Alcantara and feature contrasting stitching and piping. In the doors and on the center console, CFRP parts with their large surfaces create sporty accents, and the doors are closed by pulling on a tube-shaped grip with an Alcantara inlay. The air vents and gear shifter also have coral orange accents – the aluminum gear shift lever travels in an open shift gate.Featured GalleryAudi TT Clubsport Turbo

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