Ah, the touring car racing-inspired road car. Who could forget the BMW M3 Ravaglia, the Alfa Romeo 155 Silverstone, even the Vauxhall Astra Coupe 888… good times. Now there’s another (sort of): the VW Golf GTI TCR. What does TCR stand for? Touring Car Racing, a formula that’s taken over the world of saloon car motorsport. It’s designed for production-based cars, sharing some of their components with their roadgoing counterparts and so it’s (relatively) lower in cost than traditional high-end touring car championships like the BTCC. It’s also designed for customer drivers and teams, rather than full-on factory racing squads. It took off in 2015 and there are now national and international TCR championships all over the world. And one of the front-running cars is Volkswagen’s Golf TCR race car, built by VW’s customer racing division. Hence why VW has chosen to name this new, slightly faster, harder version of the Golf GTI hot hatch after its racing cousin.
Ooh, so it’s a lairy track special with box arches and a stripped-out interior? Not really. The Golf GTI TCR is an uprated version of the existing Mk7.5 Golf GTI Performance, which is now the entry-level GTI model in the UK (the previous base GTI has been discontinued due to WLTP homologation). Like the Golf GTI Performance, the GTI TCR has a locking differential as standard and sits 20mm lower than the standard Golf, with altered spring rates and damper settings. Pick the optional DCC adaptive dampers and the ride height sinks a further 5mm lower than the GTI Performance. The TCR is available with either three or five doors, but there’s no manual gearbox option - it’s dual-clutch DSG only. The GTI TCR is a series production car, not a low-numbers limited edition. Its production is limited by time, however. This car represents a last hurrah for the Mk7.5 Golf. What exactly makes the 2019 VW Golf GTI TCR different from the GTI Performance?
Apart from the aforementioned suspension retune, its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine has had a remap and a new stainless steel exhaust to push its power output to 286bhp, a 44bhp increase over the GTI Performance. There are two extra radiators, as per the more powerful all-wheel-drive Golf R, to help with cooling. The brake discs have been upgraded, with perforations to help dissipate heat when worked hard, and the electric power steering has had a tweak to make it more direct in its sportiest mode. A bunch of hexagon-themed stickers, as pictured here, are an option, as are a choice of 19-inch wheel designs (18s are standard). Depending on which option pack you go for, stickier Michelin Cup 2 tyres can be fitted if you wish. Some racy bucket seats? The same super-comfortable sports seats as the regular GTI, with new alcantara and cloth upholstery trimmed in a jazzier type of tartan. The steering wheel has a motorsport-style red 12 o’clock marker (trimmed in very un-motorsport-like leather). ’s about it really, save for some Alcantara on the door cards and gearlever gaiter. Otherwise it’s relaxing, ergonomically sound GTI business as usual. What’s it like to drive on the road?
In its core driving modes (Eco, Comfort and Normal) it feels very, well, Golf-y. Quiet and refined on the motorway, and smooth riding on bumpy roads (our test car was fitted with the optional DCC adaptive dampers and 19-inch wheels). In the damper’s firmest setting, the ride becomes naturally firmer, and the car resists body roll commendably well. The steering becomes much sharper in response, and is easily the best steer in the Golf range, but remains relatively numb-feeling. The locking diff function is relatively subtle in operation but works extremely well, finding plenty of traction, although like all powerful front-wheel drive cars a patient right foot is essential with the traction control disabled. It’s impressively planted and composed at all speeds, even in the wet, and on an unfamiliar road it’s a car you’d be glad to have on your side. I’d hesitate to call it exciting - a Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai i30N or Renault Megane R.S. And on the track?
Similarly grippy and planted, especially on the option Cup 2 rubber. The stability and traction control systems are very well calibrated, so unobtrusive in their intervention you barely feel them at work, partly because they don’t need to work too hard - the Golf is relatively vice-free. It’s particularly stable under braking, and the uprated discs’ stopping power impressed during our admittedly short allotted session. The considerable 280lb ft torque output is spread very wide, between 1800 and 5300rpm, meaning the Golf always punches well out of slow corners and feels plenty muscular on both the road too. How much is the VW Golf GTI TCR? Prices begin at £35,305, but start adding a few choice options and it won’t be long before one costs more than £40k. The Golf R leaps ahead with its all-wheel drive traction but the TCR steers and stops better thanks to the uprated brakes and lighter weight. In terms of rivals, the Honda Civic Type R currently costs £31,525 to £33,525, the Hyundai i30N Performance £28,760, and the Renault Megane R.S.
