Tuesday 17 March 2020

2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR pricing and specs

Mike Stevens

Contributor

New hero due soon, launching as the quickest GTI ever offered.

Australian pricing for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has been announced, ahead of its July arrival.

Limited to 300 units and landing as something of a swansong for the 'Mk7.5' Golf GTI line, the 2020 GTI TCR is priced from $51,490 before on-road costs.

That starting price positions it between the regular $46,690 180kW/370Nm Golf GTI and the $55,490 213kW/380Nm Golf R – the latter being the Golf line's all-wheel-drive flagship.

The Golf GTI TCR retains the front-wheel-drive configuration of all GTI models, but it matches the R for its 213kW output (previously achieved only by the GTI 40 Years, and only on overboost).

Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed wet-clutch DSG (and locking differential) instead of the seven-speed unit equipped in Europe, thanks to the absence of a petrol particulate filter on its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. (Recently applied to models in Europe.)

This, likewise, sees our market landing a GTI 40 Years-matching 350Nm torque tune instead of the 380Nm delivered with the overseas unit.

Again like the 40 Years special, peak torque in this unit will come in at 1750rpm – later than with the regular GTI's 1600rpm but earlier than the R's 1850rpm.

Nonetheless, the GTI TCR's status as the quickest-ever GTI is only slightly tarnished in Australian spec: whereas the European version claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds, local models will get there in 5.7 seconds.

That betters the 2016 GTI 40 Years' claim of 6.3 seconds, and the updated MY20 GTI's 6.2-second run. It's also, just barely, within a second of the R's official 4.8 seconds.

Away from the peculiarities of Volkswagen's ongoing balancing act between ever-tightening European emissions regulations and Australia's comparatively lax laws, the GTI TCR boasts a number of other special features.

Those include a bespoke adaptive chassis control and performance front brake system, along with a firmer and 5mm-lower ride than the regular GTI.

A freer-flowing exhaust system is also featured, giving the TCR a more satisfying note.

LED headlights with dynamic cornering lights are standard, along with dynamic light assist.

A new Pure Grey colour is offered alongside the GTI-specific Pure White and Tornado Red colours, joined by a black roof, unique honeycomb graphics down the side, and 19-inch wheels.

Inside, there's Alcantara highlights to the gearshift lever and door trim inserts, along with new black and red combination cloth/microfleece trim, and a tweaked steering wheel design with perforated leather at the hand grips and a red 12 o'clock marker. Seat belts and floor mats get red trim.

The only optional extra on offer is a $1900 glass panoramic sunroof.

The Golf GTI TCR will arrive in Australia from July, with production kicking off in April.