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Volkswagen, Tesco and Pod Point are rolling out 2,400 electric vehicle (EV) charging bays to create what will be the UK鈥檚 largest retail network of EV chargers. By 2020, 600 Tesco Extra stores and Tesco Superstores across the country will offer fast or rapid charging, with Pod Point installing 7kW and 50kW EV chargers. Customers will be able charge their EVs for at the 7kW fast chargers or use the 50kW rapid charger in exchange for a fee that VW describes as 鈥渁 small cost in line with the market rate鈥? The charging bays will be open to EVs of all brands, but will feature VW branding as well as LCD screen that will display advertisements for a variety of companies, including the German manufacturer. Meanwhile, Tesco hopes the scheme will enable it to build on the commitment it made last year to run on 100 per cent renewable energy. VW currently offers two electric cars - the e-Golf and e-up! The German brand will start launching its I.D. EVs next year when order books open for the I.D. Golf-sized model to be followed from 2020 with the I.D. Buzz and I.D. Crozz. Pod Point CEO Eric Fairbairn said the agreement 鈥渞epresents a 14 per cent increase in the number of public charge bays in the UK鈥? What are your thoughts on this new charging point partnership?
Even the most celebrated and well-established of them all, the VW Golf GTI, can鈥檛 last for a whole model lifecycle without an extra-hardcore run-out special edition. We鈥檙e lucky it can鈥檛, or we鈥檇 have missed out on some utterly brilliant fast hatches over this car鈥檚 long and illustrious history. Emerging this time, as a farewell to the GTI Mk7.5, is an ode to the FIA鈥檚 now globally popular Touring Car Racing motorsport formula. The GTI TCR is also an attempt to keep VW鈥檚 evergreen hot hatch competitive. So, power jumps to 213kW and torque to 380Nm, courtesy of the EA888 2.0-litre turbo four pot that鈥檚 been updated with new software management, furnished with a couple of extra radiators, and made WLTP-emissions compliant. Sadly, like the garden-variety GTIs, the TCR only comes in DSG form - the same seven-speed dual-clutch used in the Mk7.5. The TCR gets VW鈥檚 electronic locking 鈥榚Diff鈥?as standard, but it adds sizable composite brake discs as well as forged 18-inch alloy wheels.
You can choose between two optional rolling chassis upgrade packs. The first adds forged 19-inch rims and beefed up adaptive dampers, the second a slightly different set of forged 19-inch rims, the same sports adaptive dampers and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. Both upgrade packs see the car鈥檚 250km/h speed limiter removed. Final spec and pricing for Australia is yet to be confirmed. Outwardly, the TCR is probably best distinguished from the lesser GTI by its matte black alloy wheels, and the extended front splitter, rear diffuser and roof spoiler that make up its new TCR racer-inspired aero kit. Well, those and the car鈥檚 motorsport-tastic hexagonal side decals (which are effectively a no-cost option). You can add carbon-fibre door mirror caps, or you can opt for 鈥榩ure grey鈥?paint if you like, which is exclusive to the TCR. On the inside new microfibre-and-cloth sports seats appear, as does a modified steering wheel with perforated leather grips and a competition-style dead-centre marker in red.
The TCR鈥檚 driving position is near-perfect for a hot hatch. Its new sports seats are great and its interior fittings look and feel absolutely first class, showing few signs of age. However, most of that鈥檚 also true of a regular GTI and wouldn鈥檛 be a good enough reason for finding the extra cash. So what would be? Well, the TCR certainly delivers a dose more straight-line pace than the car on which it was based - the Clubsport S - though not a huge one. There is only 10Nm of extra torque on offer here over a GTI, which probably isn鈥檛 enough to notice in terms of mid-range thrust - although the TCR doesn鈥檛 feel short on the stuff. Where the car really delivers on its makeover is at high revs, and particularly so through the last 1500rpm of the operating rev range, when that freed-up 2.0-litre pulls with notably greater enthusiasm and venom.
