Volkswagen Golf GTI First Decade is a 404bhp hybrid Golf GTI heading for Worthersee

Volkswagen apprentices have built the VW Golf GTI First Decade, the first hybrid Golf GTI with electric motors delivering 404bhp. Heading for Worthersee.

For ten years, Volkswagen apprentices have been building cars for the VW Fest that is Worthersee, and this year they’ve come up with a car to celebrate a decade of achievements – the Volkswagen Golf GTI First Decade.

The unique Golf GTI from VW’s talented apprentices comes with a 404bhp petrol engine driving the front wheels plus a 48-volt electric motor, with a maximum output of 12kW at the back, enabling the Golf to be FWD, RWD (as an EV) or 4WD.

The small electric motor isn’t going to let you cruise around town as an EV, but it will allow you to park in silence, and it also comes in to play when extra grip is needed.

The batteries are recharged on the go with regenerative braking, and the driving modes can be selected on a tablet App or by Mirror Link on the infotainment screen.

But it’s not just under the skin that this Golf GTI is different, so is how it looks.

The apprentices have chosen a main colour of Atlantic Blue Metallic for their GTI, with big areas of foil on the doors and rear side panels in Satin Ocean Shimmer and three-tone blue rally stripes on the bonnet and roof.

The honeycomb grill is gloss black, there’s a Clubsport spoiler at the back and 20″ alloys with Ocean Shimmer hubs. There are also ’10’ and ‘First Decade’ logos.

Inside there’s just two seats, with an electric massaging seat for the driver, finished in black Nappa and Alcantara with blue stitching, punched Alcantara sections, Ocean Satin Shimmer highlights, ’10’ and ‘First Decade’ logos and a 1600w sound system. Well, they are apprentices.

Worthersee cars don’t normally make it to production, but the powerful 2.0 litre engine with electric help is probably a clear pointer to where the production GTI is heading.