This is based on a Mk2 Golf Syncro platform. I bought this pic on ebay.com and decided to find out more
Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesigns and debuted at the 1986 Turin motorshow. The Orbit followed on from the previous year where Giugiaro uses the basic mechanics of the VW Golf GTI for a prototype with an open body called Machimoto. More info on this with pics here http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5340007-1986-Golf-GTI-Italdesign-Machimoto
More pics can be found on the Italdesign website
http://www.italdesign.it/project/volkswagen-orbit-eng