Volkswagen Golf eR1 concept exposed

We’ve seen our fair share of Volkswagen Golf concepts over the years.

Among many others, in 2015, we saw the Golf GTE Sport Concept, followed by the GTI Hybrid in 2017.

Now, let us bring you the eR1.

Said to be the ‘ambassador’ for future performance vehicles for Volkswagen, the e-performance Golf R concept looks much like that of a Golf GTI TCR racing car with its huge body kit and extra aero.

Photographed drifting around a snow-covered track at the Ice Race GP in Zell, Austria, the eR1 sports a massive rear wing, huge front splitter, pumped-out wheel arches and stripped-out interior.

It’s also fully electric and all-wheel drive, and while finer details of its powertrain remain unknown, reports suggest it uses the previous generation Golf as a base.

Another feasible suggestion is that the eR1 could be powered by the same ridiculous 500kW/649Nm twin-electric motor system the ID.R racing car uses, given both come from the brand’s R division.

And, although it looks like a proper race car, it wasn’t built to any race regulations, as it’s not intended to race, said VW R division boss Jost Capito.

“We’ll use it to get experience of electric performance cars and to do fun stuff with the car to showcase the technology,” he said.

There’s no word yet on the eR1’s production potential, but given Volkswagen’s push towards electrification, it’s logical that elements of the prototype will find their way into a VW showroom soon.