| Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo Concept 2014 
 At the legendary  GTI meet at 2014 Wörthersee (28 to 31 May), Volkswagen is erasing the boundaries  between the virtual and real worlds. That is because, in a world premiere, the  inventor of the Golf GTI is presenting a show car which was originally created  as a purely computer generated car in bits and bytes for the PlayStation®3 classic  "Gran Turismo 6" ("GT6" developed by Polyphony Digital  Inc.): the "GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo". The two-seat  convertible is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine that produces a power  of 370 kW / 503 PS. The V6 TSI develops a maximum torque of 560 Nm between  4,000 and 6,000 rpm; 500 Nm of that torque is already available at 2,000 rpm in  the direct-injection petrol engine. The enormous power of the TSI is  transferred to the 20-inch wheel-tyre combination via a 7-speed dual-clutch  gearbox (DSG) and all-wheel drive system (4MOTION). The lightweight 1420 kg super sports car  reaches 100 km/h  in 3.6 seconds. V/max: 309   km/h!
 - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Volkswagen and Sony  Computer Entertainment. The "GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo" is the result of  cooperation between Volkswagen and Sony Computer Entertainment. Klaus Bischoff,  Head of Design at Volkswagen: "When Sony Computer Entertainment asked us  if we would develop a Vision GT vehicle exclusively for the game to mark the  15th anniversary of Gran Turismo we didn't hesitate for a moment." An  in-house competition was immediately launched and young Volkswagen designers  submitted their designs. The submissions were judged by Klaus Bischoff, Head of  Design for the Volkswagen Brand, and no less than Kazunori Yamauchi, Director  of Polyphony Digital and Senior Vice-President of Sony Computer Entertainment  who is the inventor of the "Gran Turismo series". - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : GTI from PS3 game  becomes reality. Together, the three colleagues formed a sort of "Vision GTI-GT6 task  force" together with other designers. Just a few weeks later, their  "GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo" was ready. Sony Computer  Entertainment and Volkswagen unveiled the version for the virtual world of Gran  Turismo 6 on 26 May. Just three days later a sensation: on 29 May Volkswagen  will make the "GTI Roadster" that was designed for the PS3 a reality  and present it as a superlative sports car at the GTI Meet in Reifnitz, Austria  – in tribute to fans of the Golf GTI. And fans of the "GT6" world.  From mid June "GT6" players will be able to download the "GTI  Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo" for PS3. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : GTI W12-650, Design  Vision GTI, GTI Roadster In designing the "GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo",  Volkswagen revolutionized the visual concept of the "Design Vision  GTI" concept car that was presented at Wörthersee in 2013. It was further  developed, reinvented and sent into the future as a roadster. The specifics:  the roadster was completely redeveloped, however the "Design Vision  GTI" of 2013 still paved the way, because Volkswagen used it to show how a  GTI for motorsport might appear – for the first time since the "Golf GTI  W12-650" was presented in Wörthersee in 2007. Important to know: design  highlights of the 2013 concept car are the C pillars and side sills that flare  out from the body on a second level. Designers exteriorised them as independent  body elements to create space for the car's much larger track widths and  specially developed 20-inch wheels. Despite its extreme modifications, the  "Design Vision GTI", with a top speed of 300 km/h, had a very  homogeneous appearance – as though it might start in a car race tomorrow. The  reason is that designers based their work precisely on the fundamentals of  Volkswagen Design-DNA – despite all conceivable freedoms of design. The same  applies to the new "GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo". A superlative  two-seat convertible GTI which – and this is crucial – takes up the idea of the  C pillars and side sills (carbon on the Roadster) and expresses it on another  level. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Extreme  proportions. Both concept cars show the potential of Volkswagen DNA, and that they will  carry the GTI far into the future. The goal in the "GTI Roadster" was  to push the "Design Vision GTI" concept to even greater extremes. The  wheelbase of the Roadster, at 2,494   mm, is significantly shorter than that of the production  GTI and the "Design Vision GTI". With its minimal overhangs and  minimalistic height (1,090   mm) and width (1,894) that is extreme in relation to  them, the 4,158 mm  long Roadster also has proportions that will not only make the jaws of GTI fans  drop.C pillars and side  sills as a new level. As mentioned, the biggest parallels between the two Wörthersee concept  cars are found in the area of the C pillars and side sills. On the GTI  Roadster, they are once again independent body elements, but this time they are  integrated in a convertible sports car whose dual monocoque stylistically links  to the world of Formula sports cars.
 - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Exterior design – the GTI as roadsterConvertible GTI for  the race track.  Volkswagen designers developed a progressive super sports car for race courses  that are virtually simulated. Despite this virtual nature, the "GTI  Roadster" gives viewers a way to experience unique aspects of the GTI  world. Moreover, all those who have seen the "GTI Roadster, Vision Gran  Turismo" live at Wörthersee and might want to even take the wheel in the  dual monocoque sometime, can meld the virtual and real worlds on their monitor  with a PS3 controller in hand. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : GTI of the future. The fact is that the design of the  "GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo" launches the original GTI and its  seven evolutionary stages far into the future. The visual image of the  visionary two-seater already promises a direct driving experience. Its extreme  acceleration potential in interplay with its extremely swept-back windscreen  makes the car very easy to experience directly, both in the game and in  reality. The driver sits in the monocoque and races around the track of the GT6  world from the height and perspective of a Formula race car driver. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Aerodynamics The roadster body was aerodynamically optimised by numerous modifications.  Visually prominent at the rear is the large spoiler or wing. It creates a  strong downforce, which transfers the extreme engine power to the road in a  controlled way via an all-wheel drive system (4MOTION). In the overall visual  concept, it is fascinating how the rear spoiler is integrated into the design  of the "GTI Roadster". Background: on the "Design Vision  GTI" presented in 2013, the outlying C pillars transitioned into the roof.  Now – as a defining design element of the side profile – they form a roll-over  protection bar. The rear spoiler, with its lengthened design, gives the  appearance of a wing hovering behind the roadster. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Red, the colour of  the GTI. 
 The  "GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo" sports a radiant, intensive red  metallic colour, a new interpretation of the "Tornado Red" monochrome  colour – which is the classic GTI red. Designers gave the name "Gran  Turismo Red" to the new colour. Malte Hammerbeck: "We were looking  for a very provocative and aggressive red. The car should look fast – even when  the car is standing still – and the paint should emphasise its surface  contours. We had excellent success with this high-quality three-layer paint."  All add-on parts are designed in matt carbon as an accent that complements the  high-gloss red of the body. Only the radiator grille and the screen over the  engine compartment vent are finished in high-gloss black. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Side profile –  doors swivel up and forward. Just as cool as the rear spoiler are the doors that swivel up and  forward. Visually, they split an extremely prominent character line into an  upper and lower half. The contours of the doors are also very distinctive,  because they are framed by the side sills (trimmed with the "Gran  Turismo" badge at the rear), the C pillar and the extremely flared wheel  housings. A small but exclusive detail on the sides: the illuminated GTI badge  that is integrated in the "tornado" line. On the upper door section,  the side window forms a line that rises forward with the low-profile  windscreen. In this area, the GTI Roadster has the appearance of a speedboat;  the mirrors with their carbon shells that are mounted on the door shoulders  have the look of small wings. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Customised 20-inch  wheels. The  20-inch GTI alloy wheels also have a new design. Designers worked body coloured  elements into the wheels which are equipped with central locks; these elements  form a red circle when the wheels rotate. The front wheels (8.5J x 20, ET32)  have 235/35 ZR20 tyres, while the rear wheels (9.5J x 20, ET25) are equipped  with 275/30 ZR20 tyres. A close look between the wheel spokes reveals the  extremely sturdy ceramic brake discs. On the front wheels, the brake callipers  grip discs that are 380 mm  in diameter; the rear discs are 356   mm in diameter.               - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Front end –  hovering modules.
              
                |  |  |   Viewed directly from the front, the roadster looks like a typical GTI –  but one originating from the next decade. Since the concept car is just  slightly over one metre tall, the front end was shaped to be extremely low and  wide. The GTI front end has a three-dimensional design with bumper modules that  appear to hover. Viewed from underneath: A carbon motorsport spoiler shaped as  "blades" fills the space between the GTI and the road, and it  increases downforce at the front axle. Above them are the bumper, which  transitions into the wings on the sides, and a centrally integrated wide  radiator grille with a screen in GTI honeycomb design. Its structure  intentionally makes use of the available space, creating a distinct  three-dimensional effect. The radiator grille is framed by a surface finished  in body colour. To the sides of this surface are the vertically arranged LED  daytime driving lights and the painted exterior surfaces of the bumper. Above  them are the classic red GTI radiator grille cross-stripe, VW badge and GTI  logo, another air inlet with honeycomb screen and dual LED headlights. Beneath  the headlights, there are two other narrow LED strips for the daytime running  lights, which form an unmistakable light signature together with the vertical  daytime running lights. Highly precise in styling: the outer lines of the lower  bumper air inlet wrap over the contours of the bonnet and towards the rear.  This much is certain: On the race courses of the GT6 world, this unmistakable  charismatic front-end look will cause some uneasiness when competitors see it  approaching in their digital rear-view mirrors. The closer the GTI approaches,  the more noticeable is its wedge-shaped air hood on the bonnet; hot air from  the engine compartment is vented through it. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Rear section has 3D  look.
 Viewed  from the rear, the observer sees how the carbon blades at the front continue  uninterrupted across the side sills and into the rear section as a wrap-around  element. At the rear, they serve as aerodynamically optimised air guides.  Together with the narrow elements in body colour that run parallel to them they  frame the lateral air vents and the carbon diffuser in the middle. This  diffuser is characterised by strong vertical precious metal slats and two rear  light elements mounted in positions similar to those in motorsport. Extending  to the sides above them is the bumper with trapezoidal dual exhaust tailpipes  (with GTI badge) positioned in the middle of the car. On the next higher level,  there are the narrow 3D LED rear lights mounted inside a painted cross bar, and  above them the rear spoiler. Here too, designers made use of the depths at  different levels as an additional dimension to achieve a 3D look. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Interior design –  the GTI with dual monocoqueUncompromising  sporty ergonomics.  The driver and passenger are enclosed in a dual monocoque made of  carbon. The two sides are partitioned by a middle bar that ascends from rear to  front; it is open below. In this lower area, a fire extinguisher was made  equally accessible to both driver and passenger, just as in a race car. The  "GTI Roadster" is equipped with two race shell seats. The seating  position is very low, nearly lying down, so it resembles the ergonomic proportions  of a race car. The seats and the four-spoke grip steering wheel are covered  with Alcantara. Another feature executed in motorsport style is the cockpit  display on a V-shaped wing joined directly to the steering column trim – far  forward of the driver. The steering wheel is mounted on a very long, exposed  steering column, which is typical of a race car. Designers located the red,  illuminated rotary light switch and shift paddles (7-speed DSG) to the left and  right of the steering wheel's central axis. From there, they can be activated  intuitively and ergonomically with the thumbs – without the drivers having to  take their hands off the steering wheel. - Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo : Black, anthracite  and a little red.
  The materials and colours of the interior and exterior were intentionally  differentiated in the two different cars: the typical GTI-red is used for some  interior accents – in the form of the 5-point safety belts, contrasting  stitching on the seats, the handles for opening the doors and controls on the  steering wheel – and the rest is used on the exterior. In the "GTI  Roadster", however, the interior colour selections are reduced to  "Black" and "Anthracite"; they are the typical interior  colours for race cars. Nonetheless, the matt carbon in the cockpit (used for  monocoque trim and the instruments) establishes a link to the exterior. Other  dominant materials are Alcantara, Dinamica (like Alcantara, it too has  microfibres) and aluminium. Inside the "GTI Roadster", most  decorative elements were omitted in favour of an uncompromising and  driver-active motorsport look. So that the driver can focus exclusively on the  race track – in both the virtual and real worlds! 
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