And yet still Wolfsburg has tinkered – not least, you suspect, because the GTI’s ice-cool 'needn’t be the class hard man' positioning means there’s always been both the demand and the opportunity to do it. And when they’ve done it, perhaps not invariably but at least pretty regularly and so often against the odds, an even better Golf GTI has emerged.
Emerging this time, as a farewell to what we might call the GTI mk7.5, is an ode to the FIA’s now globally popular Touring Car Racing motorsport formula. The GTI TCR is also a clear attempt to keep VW’s evergreen hot hatchback competitive. In a field of increasingly powerful fast front-drivers, the regular GTI Performance version’s 242bhp (the 228bhp GTI having been removed from sale in the UK last year) doesn’t cut much Grey Poupon these days. So, here, power jumps to a peak 286bhp, and torque to 280lb ft, courtesy of a version of the 2017 GTI Clubsport Edition 40’s ‘EA888’ 2.0-litre turbo four pot that’s been updated with new software management, furnished with a couple of extra radiators, and made WLTP-emissions compliant. Unlike the pre-facelift GTI Clubsport 40, however, the GTI TCR only comes in two-pedal, DSG-gearbox form – and it uses the mk7.5’s seven-speed twin-clutch transmission rather than the Clubsport’s six-speed paddle-shifter.
Like the GTI Performance, the GTI TCR gets VW’s electronic locking ‘eDiff’ as standard, but it adds the sizable composite brake discs and 17in calipers of the old GTI Clubsport S, as well as forged 18in alloy wheels. It comes as standard with passive suspension developed from that of the GTI Performance, with revalved, firmed-up dampers, and with shortened, stiffened coil springs that drop the car 5mm closer still to the Tarmac.
“The Clubsport S was even stiffer again,” explained VW touring car racer Benny Leuchter (who had a hand in the development of the road-going GTI TCR), “but the bigger difference between them is how much more negative wheel camber the Clubsport S had. The TCR has been developed primarily for road use but also for more typical racing circuits. The Clubsport S was set up especially for the Nordschleife.” The Nordschleife – and just about any British B-road you cared to hurl it down, as it turned out.
On the GTI TCR, you can choose between two optional rolling chassis upgrade packages. The first adds forged 19in rims and beefed up adaptive dampers, the second a slightly different set of forged 19in rims, the same sports adaptive dampers and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (the latter appeared as standard on the Clubsport S, you may remember). Both upgrade packages also see the car’s 155mph speed limiter removed. While UK prices on the GTI TCR and its options are to be confirmed, the more expensive of the two upgrade packages is likely to add about £3000 to your order.
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xxxx
Spoil for choice
If it goes much over £34k (which it probably will) you could get a S3 or save a bucket load and wait for Focus ST. There seems endless competion in segment. 5th gear rated the Megane by the way.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
AddyT
xxxx wrote:
Why get an S3 instead? It hardly sets the world alight with its well documented anodyne steering. Yes it's fast in a straight line but if that's not the be all and end all for a customer then why buy it. Don't even go into the perceived better interior - fast cars like these are meant to be fun and not about what it's like inside which is enough to make a sale. The Megane I have seen has mixed reviews BTW. I'm sure it's not a bad car but it's not said to be as good as those fast Megane's that have gone before it.
xxxx
why?
If I had to explain why I wanted a particular car over another one wouldn't want to understand, it's called personal choice.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
Overdrive
The car apeals, but the £34k
The car apeals, but the £34k asking price doesn't!
scrap
The last three door Golf GTI,
The last three door Golf GTI, and maybe the last one with a manual gearbox has already been built? The old icons are falling or being redefined.
Peter Cavellini
Elder statesman...?
I think so, VW need to do something with the Gti legend, it’s no longer mentioned in the same breath as the current top Dogs.
Peter Cavellini.
Einarbb
Appears to be track focused
Which is OK by the way - as reviewer noticed, handling is excellent on track - while not so great on road evidently due to, overtly stiff suspension. That probably means, buyer gets a car which is to degree compromized as a daily driver - but very nice drive on track. For some relatively few, this shall be fine. Others buy the more road focused so called lesser Gti's.
eseaton
If more 1% of Golf GTis go on
If more 1% of Golf GTis go on a track I'd be very surprised. And yet a track, whose requirements are utterly alien and indeed contrary to being a good road car, is somehow deemed to be a measure of road cars.
It is as relevant as evaluating trainers for their suitability as tap shoes.
si73
Golf gti's have got too
Golf gti's have got too powerful and expensive, your comment about real world performance, usability, value and driver involvement seems at odds now with the gti being so expensive, was it the mk6 that was cited as having perfect real world performance with its 200bhp for about £20k? Surely more power is unnecessary unless on a track. This level is where the new polo sits but it doesnt appear to have the involvement expected of a gti. I think if I was going to get a gti and could afford one I'd get the up as thats relatively cheap, an apparent hoot and plenty fast enough for the uk's roads, and being smaller would make it more fun and manageable in narrow country lanes.
Topcon
The Last 3 door hot hatch
I would totally agree with scrap. By far and away the best thing about this car is it’s available as a 3 door. More important than any performance or handling tweak. A 3 door will soon be impossible to buy & all hot hatches will look like a family shopping car with a spoiler.
Not another queue.....
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