EACH year there’s something of a VW-fest at Wörthersee in Austria.
Here, fans parade their wild and wonderful creations based on VW products.
Except this year Volkswagen revealed its own new creation: the 290PS Golf GTI TCR Concept.
OK, it’s a ‘Concept’ for now.
But Volkswagen weren’t holding back on their intentions.
The board’s head of sales Jürgen Stackmann said: “At the moment, the Golf GTI TCR Concept is a study. But at the end of the year, we want to make this GTI vision come true.”
So what is it?
It’s a firecracker of a Golf GTI based on the TCR racing series model (minus the massive rear wing and slick tyres).
The turbocharged engine can deliver an impressive 370 Nm from just 1600rpm, so expect fabulous shove-in-the-back acceleration linked to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) and a locking differential (well it’s based on a race car).
Power will go to the front wheels in classic GTI tradition.
What else do you need to know?
There will be 18-inch “Belvedere” forged wheels as standard (which gives you an idea that this really is a preview car than a concept); 19-inch alloy wheels as an option.
A more track-oriented version can be ordered that features a more dynamic sports chassis and adaptive chassis control (DCC) plus it can go faster (164mph top speed compared to ‘only’ 155mph of the standard machine).
Inside you’ll find all the GTI cues you’ll ever need with seat centre sections that are in contrasting “Flash Red”, and red stitching on the sports steering wheel.
Expect to see the ‘finished’ car at the end of the year – and UK versions of the Golf GTI TCR hopefully in 2019 when it will undoubtedly make a very handy business car.