It hasn’t really been long since the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf GTI was revealed, but already Wolfsburg is lining up some tasty special editions of the hot hatch. Our European spy photographers went to the Nürburgring and managed to snag images of the TCR, which was clearly popular enough in Mk7.5 form to warrant a second generation.
This car may at first glance look similar to the standard GTI, but there are a few detail changes on the outside. While the regular model wears the same front bumper as the R-Line version of the cooking Golf, the TCR gets a more aggressive design with “fangs” on the bottom edge of the full-width air intake, although some masking continues to obscure its true look. It also ditches the GTI’s X-shaped fog lights.
Also different is the bigger rear spoiler and the rear bumper insert with a diffuser-like slatted design, surrounding a larger pair of tail pipes. On top of that, the development mule is wearing the Mk7.5 Golf R‘s 19-inch Pretoria alloy wheels, which hide larger brakes and cross-drilled front discs.
Expect the TCR to come with the same powertrain as the previous model, itself an uprated version of the GTI’s 2.0 litre TSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Our spies suggest a modest 10 PS increase to a round 300 PS, which should be enough to give rivals like the Honda Civic Type R a run for their money. As before, power should be sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission.
Whether the TCR moniker will continue to be used is still up in the air, as Volkswagen has ended factory participation in the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), which uses the TCR race cars that lent their name to the top GTI. Perhaps the company could resurrect the Clubsport label with this car.
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“to give rivals like the Honda Civic Type R a run for their money.”
I don’t think that Civic R and GTI are rivals. The GTI can be driven slow too, which is not the case with the Type R (which might be faster and more ‘sportier’). Most people don’t like to drive with 6000rpm through the traffic jam.
This the Satria GTi 300PS, Rm80K if the bodosombong Proton local mgmt tak reject VW.
Why would we want an unreliable Proton car then?
Copy paste: “A good example how money could be wasted on absolutely unimportant things.”
brader, now civic type r is also turbo… you don’t need 6000 rpm
First result of a Google search: “We all know the hottest Honda to date is a performer on the track, but whether it works as a commuter is a whole ‘nother story. “
Not only VW withdrew participation in the WTCC, it also withdrew from the FIA WRC.. Knowing well Toyota was making a comeback.
And yes, Toyota now is back as world rally champion again. Beating Hyundai, Citroen and 8 times champion – Sebastian Loeb. Lucky him Toyota didn’t come back 10 years earlier. He can forget 8 times championship and make do with 4.
BTW, back to the topic.. What was the golf time at the ring…still can’t beat CTR and Megane time?
It’s a Toyota tradition to “comeback” when all other teams left the competition. Same in Le Mans… :D
Either that or they go create their own one-make series so they can shiok sendiri from 1st to last.
Hyundai I30N tcr has won the tittle for 2018’s Wtcr Manuf’s championship n top driver while for 2019 the top driver championship belongs to Nubert Micheliz on the same car…So where are those civic n gti in the wtcr….