Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Goes On Sale In Europe

The hottest version of the Volkswagen GTI (Mk 7.5): the GTI TCR has gone on sale in Europe. The TCR name is derived from the manufacturer-backed, two-time overall winning racer of the international TCR racing series.

Previewed for the first time at Worthersee 2017, the GTI TCR gets a substantial boost in power, to 290 PS (45 PS more than the GTI Performance variant). The GTI TCR doesn’t produce as much power as the hardcore GTI Clubsport S (read 310 PS and 400 Nm) but thanks to a mechanical locking front differential, it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than the Clubsport S.

Top speed is limited to 250 km/h but customers can optionally delete the limiter function for a 260 km/h top speed.

Under the bonnet, the engine remains the same 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI unit, but with a bigger turbocharger, as well as two extra radiators. The transmission is still the same DSG 7-speed dry-type dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GTI TCR is not offered with a manual transmission.

Elsewhere, other notable standard features include perforated front brake discs, Front Assist (warning and emergency braking), VW’s Active Info Display, and LED headlights.

On the outside, the GTI TCR is fitted with 18-inch Belvedere forged wheels (or 18-inch Milton Keynes wheels), black exterior mirror caps, side sill extensions, a front splitter, TCR roof spoiler, and a diffuser at the rear.

The GTI TCR can be additionally optioned with honeycomb decor foil for the side sections, carbon look mirror caps, black painted roof, and two other wheel packages. Both packages add 19-inch wheels, Adaptive Chassis Control, sports springs, and retuned absorbers, the more expensive of the two even adds semi-slick tyres.

The cabin space has been upgraded with a premium front sport seats with a new microfibre/fabric design, seat belts with red edging plus an exclusive sports steering wheel. The steering wheel’s 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock sections are trimmed with perforated leather and feature a red marker at the 12 o'clock position.

The GTI TCR is priced at EUR 38,950 (in Germany, inclusive VAT). There is no confirmation yet of the production numbers of the GTI TCR, or if it is limited at all.