First look: VW, Audi show hot Q5, Polo and Golf

VOLKSWAGEN AG has taken the unusual step of coming out in force at last week’s running of Austria’s annual car enthusiast show, the Wothersee Tour (May 20-23).

Officially, none of the modified models on show from both Volkswagen and Audi at Wothersee were anything more than “concepts”, but that didn’t stop either brand hailing their appearance as “world debuts”.

Biggest surprise was a so-called purpose-built, custom-painted version of Audi’s new Q5 medium SUV, powered by a supercharged 3.0 TFSI petrol V6 that is said to deliver more than 300kW.

The stated outputs of 408ps (304kW) and 500Nm of torque reveal the potential of Audi’s new direct-injection blown V6, which first appeared in the facelifted A6 before emerging in the new S5 Cabriolet and the redesigned S4 launched in Australia last week – all of which offer 245kW and 440Nm.

The headline act of a 3000 square-metre exhibit dedicated to “100 years of Audi”, the ‘Q5 custom concept’ also previewed what could be expected from a potential S performance version of Audi’s Q5 – 3.2 FSI petrol V6 and 2.0 TDI turbo-diesel versions of which will be released in Australia this week.

Left: Audi Q5 custom concept. Below: VW Golf GTI Worthersee 09.

The star attraction of no fewer than 20 Audi models ranging from the A1 Sportback concept to the new TT-RS featured a unique matt ‘Daytona Grey’ paint job and 60mm-lower, 90mm-wider chassis riding on seven-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels.

Audi said the Q5 concept slingshots to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds on its way to a governed 250km/h top speed.

Meantime, on the Volkswagen stand, a pair of GTI concepts made their world premieres, based on the new MkVI Golf, which went on sale in Australia in March, and the fifth-generation Polo, which was launched globally last week and goes on sale here in early 2010.

Unfortunately, neither model goes beyond cosmetic upgrades over their donor vehicles, with the Golf GTI ‘Wörthersee 09’ powered by the same new 155kW 2.0 TSI turbo-four that will propel the new GTI to 100km/h in as little as 6.9 seconds when it arrives here in October.

Painted in a red ‘Firespark Metallic’ exterior hue, the Golf GTI concept appeared with 19-inch high-gloss black alloy wheels and all-new smoked LED tail-lights.

Even more surprisingly, Wothersee’s Polo concept, which VW says “offers an initial impression of how a sport version of the new compact might look”, was powered by the same 63kW 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that will open the new range here next year.

It did, however, feature a ‘Flash Red’ paint scheme with two black overbody “rally stripes” and contrasting black grille, mirrors and headlight bezels, plus 18-inch ‘Budapest’ alloy wheels.

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