Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet Concept Drops at Wörthersee Festival

June 2, 2011 at 11:35am by Alexander Stoklosa

Volkswagen’s upcoming 270-hp, all-wheel-drive Golf R is an impressive hot hatch, and for the annual Wörthersee GTI meet, VW chopped off its lid to create the Golf R cabriolet concept. We recently drove the new, Euro market-only Volkswagen Golf cabriolet and came away smitten with its driving manners and clean, basket-handle-less top-down looks. VW engineers have made a good thing even better by adding all of the Golf R’s go-fast goodies. This means that in addition to the R’s 4Motion all-wheel drive and powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the cabrio sits on a similarly lowered suspension and sports huge 19-inch wheels through which 17-inch brake discs clasped by blue calipers painted with the R logo are visible.

The interior of the Golf R cabriolet concept features grey nappa and dark blue carbon leather slathered over thin racing seat shells. The leather is set off by contrasting piping and liberal amounts of carbon, aluminum, and piano black trim. Volkswagen claims the Golf R cabrio posts identical performance numbers to its roofed counterpart, and while we found almost no chassis flex in the regular Golf cabrio, it remains to be seen if that is the case for the roofless R. VW is mum on whether we are looking at potentially the hottest (no pun intended) topless production Golf cabrio, but we don’t see why it couldn’t become a reality given its utilization of existing components and platforms.

Volkswagen will also show off two closed-top Golf R “concepts” at the Wörthersee GTI meet, previewing possible special trim packages and paint colors for the production Golf R, and of course its Euro-only GTI Edition 35 that we reported on a few weeks ago. Check out the Golf R cabrio concept in the gallery below.

Tags: concept, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet, Volkswagen Golf R |

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Škoda’s Fabia-Based Four-Door Roadster RS 2000 Concept Unveiled at Wörthersee

June 2, 2011 at 1:54pm by Alexander Stoklosa

Volkswagen Group’s Škoda division is showing off the Fabia RS 2000 concept, a rally-inspired, roofless four-door design study that it purpose-built for the GTI meet at Wörthersee. Despite its GTI moniker, the Wörthersee meet attracts not only GTI tuners, but even non-GTI-associated aftermarket parts companies and tuning fans. The RS 2000 should play well to that crowd—borrowing an aggressive disposition from Škoda’s rally-prepped Fabias with add-ons like white multi-spoke racing wheels, widebody fender flares, and gaping lower front fascia air intakes, the green roadster exudes rally cool. On their own, the rally bits aren’t all that new or exciting, but paired with the concept’s chopped windshield and pillarless side glass ensconcing an open, four-seat, four-door cabin they certainly create a looker. To guard against the possibility the RS2000’s bodywork fails to grab onlookers’ attention, Škoda topped it off with a searing coat of bright green paint punctuated by blacked-out windshield pillars, grille, and chin spoiler.

Škoda claims that the open cabin and low windshield combine to deliver a dynamic and sporty drive with a “constant supply of fresh air and a sense of being at one with nature.” We dig the look, but we think that in reality, a constant supply of insects and road grime might dull some of the shine of that “fresh air” deal. Skoda didn’t mention what powers its mean, green machine, but if it shares any powertrain elements with the Škoda Fabia Super 2000 Intercontinental Rally Challenge car it was inspired by, we’d happily don a full-face helmet and jump behind the wheel.

Tags: Škoda, Škoda Fabia RS 2000 concept |

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