WOTHERSEE 2019: VW apprentices create two new Golf concepts

Volkswagen has unveiled two new Golf-based concepts that have been designed, developed, engineered and built by apprentices from its Wolfsburg and Saxony academies.

The first concept is the Volkswagen Golf GTI Aurora, the work of a bunch of students from VW's Wolfsburg campus, that has been created for track day junkies obsessed with nailing the perfect lap.

Offering the driver additional data on the centre console, including relevant engine and vehicle data, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Aurora also allows the passenger to track each lap using a live data feed.

If that becomes a bore, the passenger can crank up the car's on-board 3500-watt sound system.

In that vein, the two-seat track-focused Golf GTI rear cargo area has been completely redesigned to accommodate the speakers and subwoofers.

Under the bonnet, power has been boosted to 279kW, with the standard car's 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder combined with a seven-speed DSG transmission.

Externally, the GTI Aurora gets Nardo grey and pearl black paint with mint green accents, plus a prominent body kit, huge ring wing and rear diffuser, plus a lower front splitter.

The Golf GTI Aurora was said to be the work of 18 apprentices aged from 19-22.

Competing for attention at the VW GTI festival will be the Golf wagon R 4MOTION FighteR made by 13 apprentices from Volkswagen Saxony.

Powered by a highly tuned 295kW version of the same 2.0-litre turbo as the Golf R (and GTI), the supercar-baiting wagon has received the full wide-fender treatment that sees the small Golf measure in 300mm each side.

Built at VW's Zwickau plant, the Worthersee GTI show car also features an LED roof light bar and strobe lights in the grille and a custom paint job.

Those strobe lights are a tell-tell for the concept's future role as a safety car at the nearby Sachsenring race circuit.

With that in mind the FighteR gets a 360-degree camera system to record hot laps that can then be replaced on VR headsets at Worthersee.

Inside, there's a custom full leather and Alcantara interior, plus the obligatory large sound system.

Both cars have been unveiled at the Worthersee GTI festival held on Lake Worthersee in southern Austria. This year marks the 38th anniversary of the event.