WORTHERSEE 2017: Volkswagen unveils 300kW Golf GTI hybrid

Volkswagen revealed a wild new Golf GTI-based concept it has created for this year's VW fan meet held at Lake Worthersee in Austria.

Called the Golf GTI First Decade, the name of the new concept marks the tenth Worthersee concept created by young engineers, designers and assembly workers studying at the Volkswagen Vocational Training course at the German car-maker’s HQ.

Created in just nine months, aside from its bright exterior and interior, the highlight of the GTI concept is it combines a petrol engine (that drives the front wheels) with a 48-volt 12kW electric motor that powers the rear wheels.

Together, this produces a total of 300kW - more than the stillborn 298kW R400 Volkswagen planned to launch last year until it was hit by the Dieselgate emissions scandal.

Interesting, the new GTI's powertrain enables the Golf to operate either a regular front-wheel drive car or in pure-electric mode. This means, for the first time in the Golf GTI's 40-year history, for brief bursts, the Golf GTI First Decade is driven by its rear wheels.

To deploy its maximum power, the Golf GTI petrol and electric motor work together to drive all four wheels.

Described as a 'mild electric propulsion system' the energy is recovered under braking to charge the motor's two rear-mounted batteries.

Other features of the GTI hybrid concept is that it rides on large 20-inch alloys and comes with a rear spoiler lifted from the current Golf GTI 40 Years.

Inside, the rear seats are junked for weight saving measures but the apprentices couldn't resist fitting a hugely powerful 1690-watts 11-speaker sound system.

As well as the Golf GTI First Decade, Volkswagen has revealed a second car created by its apprentices.

The Golf GTE Estate impulsE is the work of another 14 VW apprentices.

The highlight of the second small wagon is the young engineers managed to swap the regular plug-in hybrid's 8.8kWh lithium ion battery pack to a more powerful 16.8kWh battery.

This, claims Volkswagen, doubles the pure-electric range from 50km to more than 100km.

As well as the powertrain changes, the trainees also developed a five-tone matt paintwork for the concept and added new ventilation slats in the bonnet for extra cooling.

Inside, the GTE features yet another heavily customised interior that includes an app-controlled ambient light feature.

Both Golfs will be officially revealed at the Austrian festival on May 24.