2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR busts out
If you thought the regular Golf GTI was a bit wimpy, you need to check out this 213kW machineOfficial images of the production version Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR have emerged, showing what the most potent front-drive VW car to ever grace showrooms will look like.
As it turns out, the production version of the VW Golf GTI TCR is almost indistinguishable to the concept car that first broke cover last year at the annual Volkswagen love-fest that is Worthersee, held in Austria.
Coming to Australia from around August 2019 in limited numbers - at least 400 units - the hottest Golf GTI hatchback thus far pumps out 213kW (up from 180kW) and an expected 370Nm.
Dispatching the 0-100km/h spring in just 5.6 seconds thanks to a front diff lock, the aggressive Golf also gets uprated brakes to back up the power boost.
Although pricing has not been confirmed for Australia, the car will be a five-door hatch and paired exclusively to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. In Europe the three-door Golf GTI TCR sells for €38,950, which is roughly $A62,000, but Aussie pricing will likely dip under $60,000 and be closer to the Golf R hatch's $56,490.
The hopped-up limited-edition Golf GTI gets its name from the TCR motorsport category, in which the Golf has dominated for the past couple of years. If you're interested, we've driven the $160,000 VW Golf GTI TCR race car and it's off chops. How does 240kW sound?!
Some of the standout visual cues for the road-legal hot hatch include black mirror caps, a bold front splitter, black side skirt extensions, a TCR roof spoiler and beefed up rear diffuser.
There's also an optional visual package that brings a black roof and stylised sticker pack for the rear flanks, along with carbon-fibre mirror caps.
European cars come with 18-inch alloy wheels but there are optional 19-inch rims that can be shod with 235/35 R19 semi-slick tyres, which should give the hot hatch supreme levels of grip when accelerating, braking and, chiefly, when cornering.
The bigger alloy wheels and sporty rubber also inflict the handy side effect of a higher top speed - now 260km/h.
Inside the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR features suede-like upholstery with bold red accents and stitching on the upgraded sport seats. The steering wheel is a leather-wrapped jobbie with de rigueur race car-inspired 'straight ahead' red mark at the 12 o'clock position.
Crimson seat belts are a neat touch, as are custom puddle lights that project the TCR logo onto the ground so you avoid spoiling your Sparco racing shoes.
The hot new Golf GTI TCR will be looking to brawl with rival hot hatches such as the Hyundai i30 N, new Renault Megane RS and Honda Civic Type R.
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