What's the news?
What's the ultimate Volkswagen Golf GTI? The current 230hp model? The more potent, 245hp Performance variant? Or a Clubsport of some variety, in particular the Nürburgring-record-holding S?
Well, the Clubsport S probably is, but hold onto your hats, because here comes another extreme example of the Golf GTI. It's called the GTI TCR and it gains those three initials because it is a road-going version of the German company's 350hp TCR Golf race car. Volkswagen chose to reveal the GTI TCR at the Worthersee GTI Meeting in Austria this week.
Exterior
Outside, the GTI TCR gains a new design of front bumper with modified air intakes and a splitter, some beefy side skirts, a bolder diffuser at the rear incorporating the twin, spaced-exit exhausts and a bespoke design of roof spoiler. Pure Grey is a new exterior colour exclusive to the TCR, while Pure White, Tornado Red, Deep Black Pearl Effect and Oryx White Pearl Effect are all available, and owners can choose to have the roof in contrasting black. Side decals include a TCR logo in black and honeycomb patterns up the doors (these can be deleted if you so wish) and matte black for much of the detailing. There's also a TCR logo broadcast from puddle lights in the door mirrors.
Interior
Inside, once you've stepped over stainless-steel kick plates with a red illuminated element, the front seats are sports items finished in a microfibre/cloth upholstery that is repeated on the door cards. All the stitching is red, including the large bars on the seats themselves in 'Flash Red', while there are red-edged seatbelts and a red 12 o'clock marker on the steering wheel.
Mechanicals
Power for the GTI TCR comes from the familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but here the outputs are bolstered to 290hp between 5,000- and 6,800rpm, with 370Nm to back it up - the torque is delivered from 1,600rpm, all the way out to 4,300rpm. Power goes to the front wheels alone via a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission and a limited-slip differential.
A set of perforated brake discs with uprated callipers and pads provide the stopping power, and these reside behind 18-inch 'Belvedere' forged alloy wheels as standard, with 19-inch items as an option. Up front, the GTI TCR has an additional two radiators to keep its engine cool, while a stainless steel exhaust is standard, with an Akrapovič titanium set-up offered as an option. Dynamic Chassis Control will also be available for a fee and there will be the opportunity to get rid of the speed limiter - do so, and the TCR's top speed rises from 250- to 264km/h.
Anything else?
Volkswagen might have had the GTI TCR in Worthersee as a show car, but a European launch of this model is on the cards before 2018 is out. We'll bring you more details on prices, specs and build numbers as and when we get them.