On October 21st of this year, the world had to grip with the saddest of all realizations: Robert Zemeckis’s “Back to the Future” predictions were a bit premature. We were supposed to have hover boards, flying cars, and instant microwavable food by now!
But with the release of the Volkswagen Golf GTE, there’s hope. It might not be prepped for takeoff quite yet, but it looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie – in a good way. If this is the direction that VW Hatchbacks are headed, consider us along for the ride.
The Golf GTE concept is a 3-motor, all-wheel drive plug-in race car. Don’t let the plug in fool you, though. This engine isn’t for Sunday drivers. The GTE Sport concept picture above is packed with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors that collectively produce 440lb-ft of torque between the two axles. This is all feeding into a 6-speed gearbox that we’d be happy to shift through any day.
The GTE sport combines aerodynamic downforce with a body constructed of nearly 100% carbon fiber. It’s also a few inches shorter than the 2015 Golf, much lower to the ground, and riding on a wider wheel base. As seen above in the picture, the vents along the sidewall of the GTE funnel air down to the brakes of the vehicle, keeping them cool and responsive after the hardest sprints on the track.
Inside, the concept continues to prove remarkable. Lift open the gullwing doors and you’ll find the passenger and driver sides quarantined into their own separate compartments, with a carbon fiber dashboard separating the two. On the driver’s side you’ll find a carbon fiber butterfly steering wheel and a digital cluster that displays speed and other diagnostic information.
So let’s see: if we sell our car, all our belongings, take out a loan, and eat 50% less, we might be able to afford the Volkswagen Golf GTE. The final price is actually unknown for now, but we’re guessing it’s going to be a bit on the pricey side of Volkswagen. That’s completely fine by us though. If it looks and drives like we think it will, we might be finding out how it sleeps.
Come by Leith Volkswagen Cary today if you’re interested in buy a new car or getting your vehicle serviced. We’ll take good care of you.
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