It’s official: the 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has finally landed in Australia. It comes priced at $51,490 before on-road costs and is limited to just 300 units nationally. If the normal Golf GTI is somehow too slow for you, the GTI TCR delivers more power, more performance, and more equipment than the regular Golf GTI for $4,800 more.
The GTI TCR’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is essentially the same as the one in the regular Golf GTI, but has been tuned to deliver 213kW and 350Nm. The TCR therefore offers more power than the standard Golf GTI which has a 180kW power output, though strangely 20Nm less torque. Power is sent to the road solely through the six-speed wet-clutch DSG transmission, with the GTI TCR making the 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.7 seconds – 0.6 less than the regular GTI.
The GTI TCR’s power outputs essentially mirror those of the ultra high performance Golf R. The difference is that the GTI TCR sends power to the front wheels only through a proper electronically controlled limited slip differential, unlike the Golf R, which sends power to all of its four wheels.
Volkswagen has also made upgrades to the suspension and brakes which should make the TCR the sharpest Golf GTI yet. For starters, the Golf GTI TCR rides 5mm lower than the regular GTI thanks to bespoke springs and adaptive dampers. The braking system has also seen upgrades, with drilled rotors up front whilst the exterior features more aggressive bodykit elements finished in gloss black.
Inside, the GTI TCR gets bespoke cabin trims, sporty Alcantara microfibre sports seats along with red accents dotted throughout the cabin. The steering wheel means business too, with the 12 o’clock position marked with a red to let keen drivers know exactly where the wheel is pointed.
The GTI TCR comes in only three colours locally– ‘Pure White’, ‘Tornado Red’, and the TCR-exclusive ‘Pure Grey’. All models come with a signature gloss black roof paint.
As we eagerly await the scheduled arrival of the new Mk8 Golf early next year, the Golf GTI TCR will be the final version of the Mk7.5 Golf along with the Golf R Final Edition.
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