VW Design Vision GTI

The Design Vision GTI has been revealed at the Worthersee VW event in Austria. Designed to please the 200,000 fans who are expected to attend the event, which runs from 8-12 May, the Design Vision GTI is intended to show a vision of what a GTI built specifically for racing could look like.

The one-off concept is built on the familiar MQB modular platform, but measures 4,253mm long, 1,442 high and 1,870mm wide, making it 15mm shorter, 57mm lower and 71mm wider than the current VW Golf GTI, giving a more aggressive stance.

Instead of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine used by the GTI, the concept features a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. As a result, power jumps from 217bhp and 350Nm of torque to 496bhp and 560Nm.

The engine drives all four wheels via a twin-clutch gearbox, while the brakes now feature ceramic discs.

The Vision GTI completes the 0-62mph sprint in 3.9 seconds – down from the 6.5 seconds that a DSG-equipped GTI can manage – while its top speed climbs from 152mph to 186mph.

The Design Vision GTI has been styled by Marc Lichte, Andreas Mindt and Philipp Romers, the same team that penned the latest Golf and GTI models.

Finished in white, with piano black trim, the Design Vision GTI takes the subtle but striking design features of the standard car and exaggerates them.

For example, the curvy C-pillar now sticks out, almost like a flying buttress that's separate from the car bodyside, while the rear diffuser has grown significantly. Likewise, the front wheelarches are much more aggressive, and now flare out with vents in front of and behind them, and 20-inch wheels closely fill the arches.

Inside, the controls on the dash have been minimised, so the buttons for the three driving modes – street, sport and track – are now on the steering wheel, while the dashboard itself is now more angled towards the driver.

The interior is constructed from carbon fibre and alcantara, and features the same red fabric loop door closers as used in Porsche Cup cars.

As it’s designed as a racer, the Vision GTI has an X-shaped cross brace instead of rear seats, and built-in helmet storage. The car also has a display of the current racetrack you’re driving on, along with split times of other cars.

Sadly there are no plans to build a production version of the concept. Much like VW's previous Worthersee Golfs - such as the mid-engined Bentley-W12-powered Golf W12-650 - the Vision is more an excuse to let the firm's designers let off some steam.

Peugeot 208 GTi

Peugeot has been saving the GTi badge for something special since the underwhelming 207 GTi was discontinued in the market in 2009.

Finally, the company reckons it has produced a car worthy of the badge in the shape of this 208 GTi Concept, which is set to be unveiled at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

There’s no doubt where the inspiration for the hot 208 has come from. The GTi badge is proudly displayed on the rear quarter panels – just as it was on the legendary 205 GTi hot hatch back in the eighties.

But the retrospective nods to one of Peugeot’s best-loved models end there. A very modern look, with beefy wheelarches, an aggressive front grille and a large rear spoiler is the order of the day. The grille looks like a chequered flag and there’s a pair of chrome exhaust pipes.

The 208 GTi’s engine has already been seen in the RCZ coupe. The 197bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. No performance figures have been released, but expect a 0-62mph time of less than seven seconds.

A special exhaust system gives this engine a burbling note in the RCZ, and a similar set-up will likely be seen in the GTi. Sharp and agile handling should also be expected, as the 208 weighs around 110kg less than the 207.

To improve the GTi’s cornering ability even further, the front and rear tracks have been widened by 36mm and the suspension will be specially modified. The larger-diameter brakes used on the 154bhp 208 1.6 THP model will also fitted to the GTi.

Peugeot has also worked hard to ensure the GTi Concept feels special from behind the wheel. The standard car’s small steering wheel is now trimmed in leather and incorporates a GTi badge plus contrasting red stitching.

The red theme continues in the dial surrounds, the dash inserts and the centre console. The dashboard itself is finished in Alcantara, while the black rooflining and aluminium pedals also add to the classy feel.

For the moment, Peugeot is still calling the 208 GTi a concept car, but we’ve already spotted prototype models being tested on the road. That means you can expect to see the hot 208 on sale by the end of this year.

Peugeot 208 GTi

Peugeot is preparing to unleash a hot GTi version of its new 208 supermini – and the ingredients are right for it to be one of the most exciting Peugeots for years. We have all the details, and our illustrations show how the standard 208 will be transformed.

Like the 205 GTi, which was offered with 105bhp 1.6-litre and 130bhp 1.9-litre engines, the 208 will come with a choice of power outputs.

The tamer version will feature the same 181bhp 1.6-litre turbo engine as the MINI Cooper S, cover the 0-62mph sprint in less than seven seconds and still return almost 50mpg.

The interior will get sports seats and GTi badges, while the exterior will feature bigger alloys, a pumped-up bodykit and larger foglights. At the back, a roof spoiler and twin exhausts finish off the makeover.

The 208 GTi will have plenty of rivals, as the Ford Fiesta ST is due before the end of the year, and there’s an all-new Renaultsport Clio arriving in early 2013. There’s no official release date for the 208 GTi.