Let’s say that you are bored with your Golf. It has served you well. It never fails to start in the morning, regardless of the weather conditions. It is totally dependable, never less than practical but it just does not go as fast as it ought to. What do you do? Well, you could head off to any one of a number of tuners. They would work their magic around its turbocharger (if it is one of those models thus equipped), fit a new exhaust system, fiddle a bit with the engine management and provide a near-300bhp road-burner that would keep you going for the next few years.
It would be nice, were that the case, but the instant you start tinkering with what the factory produced, you will introduce degrees of unreliability. While not wishing to upset the tuning fraternity, they will upset your car’s exhaust emissions and future MOTs are sure to be placed in jeopardy. However, there is a factory-provided solution; one that has been available on and off for the past few years, except, soon, it will be more readily attainable.
Known as the Golf TCR, being named after the international racing series that the Golf has won a couple of times, it is based on the front-wheel-drive Golf, one of the best all-round packages presently on sale. It has a 287bhp version of the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol lump, which allows it to reach a maximum speed of 158mph and the capacity to despatch the 0-60mph sprint in a mere 5.3s, driving through a 7-speed DSG gearbox…only the Golf R is quicker.
The TCR is even more exclusive than the Golf GTI Performance and features Front Assist, Active Info Display and LED headlights as standard. A front-axle differential lock, perforated brake discs, driving profile selector, premium front sport seats (with a microfibre/fabric design), seat belts with red edging plus an exclusive sports steering wheel are included.
The new Golf is also distinguished by standard 18.0-inch diameter Belvedere forged alloy wheels (18.0-inch Milton Keynes optional), black exterior mirror caps, sill extensions, front splitter, TCR roof spoiler and a diffuser at the rear. It makes a strong impression even before the driver settles behind the wheel, with a TCR logo projected onto the road, when the front doors are opened. The Golf GTI TCR can be further customised with honeycomb decor foil for the side panels, carbon door-mirror caps, a black painted roof, as well as various 19.0-inch alloy wheels.
Of two upgrade packages available, the first includes Reifnitz 19.0-inch rims with 235/35 R19 tyres, a sports version of the rear damping system and the DCC adaptive chassis control system. The second package includes Pretoria 19.0-inch rims with racetrack-ready sports tyres sized 235/35 R19. This package also includes additional wheel locks with expanded anti-theft protection.
