► Meet the Golf TCR Touring Car
► Engine taken directly from Golf R
► Intended to evaluate customer interest
VW has announced yet another hot Golf while we wait for the R400 – but this time it’s not a concept or production hot hatch, it’s a racer. Meet the new Golf TCR racer, built by Volkswagen Motorsport as a testbed to see if Wolfsburg could profitably to build an entry suitable for the latest Touringcar Racer International Series (TCR).
The TCR series is designed for cars with very close links to road cars and lower budgets, which gets a big thumbs-up from us.
And VW says if there is enough customer demand for the more affordable touring car project, it’ll consider a customer racing programme from 2016.
VW Golf TCRS Touring Car: the lowdown
VW has teamed up with race veterans Liqui Moly Team Engstler, which will look after the Golf racer during races from round eight until the end of the 2015 season. Its engine is taken directly from the Golf R, but receives a few tweaks to boost power to 325bhp and torque to 302ft lb.
And check out the wider stance: the track has been widened by a huge 40cm over a production Golf R, to meet FIA regulations and accommodate sufficiently wide tyres and big brakes needed on track.
A big rear wing and larger racing alloys are added to the exterior, alongside a carbon front splitter and rear diffuser which gives the Golf a somewhat more shouty look than the reserved GTI and R look.