Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR revealed with 286bhp

The TCR will be positioned as the top-end Golf GTI variant when it goes on sale. 

After releasing its teaser sketches last week, Volkswagen has now officially revealed the Golf GTI TCR concept at the annual fan meet in Reifnitz am Wörthersee, Austria.

In terms of power, the TCR – at 286bhp – has about 44 horses more than the standard car. The power of the 370 Nm-strong turbocharged engine is transmitted to the front wheels from only 1,600rpm via a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Also, standard is a locking differential. The top speed of the standard version is 250km/h, but this can be increased to 264km/h by removing the electronic ‘Vmax’ limiter, making this Golf the fastest GTI of the current model range.

If desired, enthusiastic drivers can order a package that pushes the TCR’s performance even further. Besides the removal of the Vmax limit and the new 19-inch wheels, it includes a more dynamic sports chassis and the adaptive chassis control, which adapt to the characteristics of the electrically adjustable shock absorbers at the touch of a button.

The Golf GTI TCR differentiates itself from the standard GTI in terms aesthetics. A newly designed bumper with sharply contoured splitter at the front, a new panel attachment on the side that joins a diffuser and the exhaust system tailpipes at rear and the TCR lettering above the sills are its key design elements.

Inside, the sport seats are now finished with newly designed fabric covers. The door inserts and gear stick cover have been finished in microfibre. The seat centre sections are in the contrasting colour Flash Red, which is the bridge to the red contrasting stitching on the sports steering wheel.

While shown as a concept currently, the TCR looks quite production-spec and is confirmed to be launched in Europe by autumn 2018. Also, it is likely that the TCR will have no production cap there – VW will continue to produce it as the top-spec GTI variant – before the car gets replaced by a new-gen model, which is speculated to be launched by 2019 end.