Wörthersee 2011: Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet

At the 30th Wörthersee GTI meet Volkswagen has followed up its GTI Edition 35 by ripping the top off the Golf R. The all-paw Cabriolet translates its special R styling cues and 199kW drivetrain across to the regular ragtop Golf and, if you’re into open top motoring this looks half decent.

It’s only being described as a concept, so don’t start thinking you can rock on to your VW dealer and order one. But, as with most things, if enough interest is shown then Volkswagen will find a way to build it, we’re sure.

Volkswagen News at Wörthersee: Powerful 270 PS Golf R revealed as cabriolet concept!

• Cruiser: open-top Golf R at full strength even in lowest speed range
• Strong look: debut of Golf R Concept at Wörthersee

Wolfsburg / Reifnitz, 02 June 2011 – Volkswagen has travelled to the largest GTI Meet in the world at Wörthersee with an entire fleet of new models, concept cars and accessory highlights. After revealing the new Golf GTI Edition 35 in a world debut, the company that invented the GTI will be pulling the veils off some other secret projects of a sporty nature: Volkswagen is presenting the Golf R Cabriolet as a concept car with 270 PS of power and a top speed of 250 km/h; it is a fascinating thought experiment in cabrio dynamics. This “power cabrio” also demonstrates the inexhaustible potential of the Golf. But there is more news as well: other concept cars such as the Golf R Concept and the latest original accessories will make the GTI Meet (until June 4th) a mecca for every Volkswagen fan.

Golf R Cabriolet concept: Volkswagen just recently introduced the new Golf Cabriolet, and the designers and engineers of Volkswagen R GmbH have already come up with an extremely sporty variant of this model: the Golf R Cabriolet Concept. Like its closed top counterpart, the 199 kW / 270 PS Cabriolet concept races to the 100 km/h mark in less than six seconds. Their top speeds are also identical at 250 km/h. This makes the R Cabriolet the fastest open-top Golf ever. Even more impressive, however, is the engine’s tremendous torque – 350 Newton metres from a low 2,500 rpm make this cabriolet an ideal cruiser.

Like the closed-top Golf R, the cabriolet was lowered by 25 mm via a sport chassis. A 17-inch brake system with internally ventilated discs at all wheels and blue painted high-performance brake callipers (including R-logo) enables impressive deceleration values. Making contact to the road surface on the Golf R Cabriolet Concept are 19-inch “Talladega” alloy wheels with size 235 tyres.

Naturally, the Golf R Cabriolet Concept also presents an especially sporty interior concept. Motorsport shell seats in dark blue carbon leather, combined with high-end Nappa leather in “Pure Grey”, set the tone here. The backs of the shell seats are painted in luxurious black piano paint. Upholstery piping and decorative seams provide for colour contrast. Carbon accents emphasise the concept’s technical-sporty character. The sand-blasted aluminium door sill plates with black piano paint inlays display finely crafted workmanship.

Golf R Concept: Two variations of the Golf R Concept are also making strong visual statements at Wörthersee. Like the classic Golf R and the R Cabriolet on display at Wörthersee, the two Golf R Concepts are also powered by a 2.0-litre turbo engine with the mentioned 199 kW / 270 PS, which is as powerful as it is efficient.

The first version of the Golf R Concept attracts attention with mid-tone “Velvet Grey Metallic” exterior, polished 19-inch “Talladega” alloy wheels, orange painted brake callipers and carbon mirror caps.

The driver and front passenger have the pleasure of sitting on perfectly ergonomic motorsport shell seats. Their outer segments are upholstered in black Nappa leather; anthracite-coloured Nappa leather (“Light Anthracite”) is used towards the inner surfaces in the area of the lateral seat supports and towards the head section. The cross-stitched centre panels of the seat and seatback gets an even lighter Nappa leather (“Pure Grey”). The back shell glistens in black piano paint. The piping on the side sections of the seat and head section provide a fine contrast: the orange of the brake callipers is repeated here. Meanwhile, interior accents match the look of the mirror caps: carbon. The same material is also used for the steering wheel, gear shift lever and the door sill plates. Black piano paint characterises the panels behind the inside door handles, the trim of the window controls and the trim of the gear shift grip.

The second model of the Golf R Concept is painted in the sophisticated “Aplomb Blue”. The 19-inch “Glendale” wheels that are new to the Golf line-up shine in “Brilliant Silver”. Once again, the exterior mirror caps, various interior accents and the door sill plates are made of carbon.

Parts of the back shells of the motorsport shell seats also feature carbon. Black Nappa leather covers the outer areas of the seat and seatback surfaces. Meanwhile, the ridge of the seats – a continuous stripe that runs along the lateral seat and back supports – consists of blue leather. The sport leather steering wheel’s inner segments and grip recesses were upholstered in “carbon leather”; characteristic of this lightweight material is its woven structure. Even the floor mats have a carbon look. The decorative seams here, as in the area of the parking brake lever, are styled in blue.

Volkswagen Zubehör GmbH: At the 30th GTI Meet, the accessories company is not only showing complete vehicles, but also lifestyle articles and vehicle accessories. Available in the “GTI Shop” at the Volkswagen exhibit is the entire new “GTI Collection” of sporty shirts, coats, jeans, children’s articles and accessories. And that is not all: the 35th anniversary of the Golf GTI was reason enough to design a commemorative series: the “GTI Edition 35 T-Shirt Collection” with the best advertising motifs over the 35 years of the GTI.

Classic accessories on display at Wörthersee include various alloy wheels (up to 21-inch in size). Also being presented by Volkswagen Zubehör GmbH is a customised Polo with features that can be ordered individually such as interior accents and door mirror caps in carbon look, special tailpipe trim, rear apron with diffuser and 17-inch “Motorsport” alloy wheels – all with affordable sports appeal. And that is how it should be. Because Volkswagen democratised the sports car with the GTI back in 1976. 35 years later, this also means that the accessories line-up offers enhanced sports appeal for every budget.