Every year, Volkswagen prepares a series of interesting GTI-based concept cars built by their apprentices for the Lake Wörthersee Festival in Austria. While this year’s event was affected by the coronavirus, that didn’t stop the automaker from presenting the Golf GTE Skylight concept car at their own factory. Similar to last year’s previous-gen GTE HyRace, the new GTE Skylight has a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
As expected from a concept, the Skylight features several design touches that differentiate it from the production Golf GTE it is based on. First, you will notice the special livery with Lapiz Blue and Catalina Blue graphics on a white body, which is combined with a set of 20-inch rims. The door handles are illuminated and the taillights feature white LED graphics in a dark background. The larger rear spoiler and side sills are borrowed from the Golf R, rounding up the exterior changes together with the 3D-printed stainless steel exhaust pipes.
Inside, the most striking feature is the GTE badge hologram above the central touchscreen, which reacts to speed/acceleration. Moreover, the blue upholstery on the sports seats matches with the blue details on the dashboard, steering wheel, and doors. The color choice makes perfect sense as the GTE badge is associated with blue (while the GTI is with red and the GTD with black). Finally, an impressive sound system is hiding at the boot, with a total output of 3,110 Watts, more than enough to organize an outdoor party. Another thing you will find in the luggage compartment is an electric skateboard for your last-mile commute.
The team didn’t feel the need to fiddle around with the plug-in hybrid powertrain. This means the Skylight has the stock model’s 1.4 TSI and electric motor, with a GTI-matching combined output of 242 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG gearbox with the help of the XDS electronic differential. The 13 kWh battery provides enough juice for an electric range of around 60 km and the DCC adaptive suspension makes sure you can get a comfortable or a sporty ride.
A total of 16 apprentices worked on the project. As the tradition suggests, three of them were also involved in last year’s concept car, bringing their experience to the team. For those who want to see the Golf GTE Skylight up-close, it will be on display at Volkswagen’s Autostadt factory in Wolfsburg, Germany.
