Reports of a new, faster Golf GTI concept appearing at Worthersee have proved accurate. However the Design Vision GTI is not what we expected by any stretch of the imagination. Demonstrating what a track-spec GTI could look like, this concept based on the seventh-gen Golf GTI has been shortened, lowered and aggressively widened. It packs 20-inch alloys in a wider track with its iconic C-pillars appearing almost separate from the body. The racing look is backed up by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 rated at 503 horsepower.

That power and 413 lb-ft of torque is channeled to all four wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox to reach 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and top out at 186 mph, with ceramic brakes to keep things in check. The familiar red, black and white color scheme extends from the menacing body to the minimalist, track-focused interior, where touches of carbon and Alcantara give it a racy feel, while features such as an X-shaped cross member in the back seat with built-in helmet storage, driver-facing switches, a racing-style gear selector, and red straps for door handles inspired by Porsche Cup racers leave no doubt this is a car built for the track.

Onboard toys include a camera, a social networking system and a large screen displaying the circuit info and telemetry while communicating with other cars on the track. Unfortunately we'll have to wait a little while longer before Volkswagen drops the full thing, but for now we can get an idea of what it has in store with these sketches.