The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR paid a visit to the
plastic surgeon, where it received a new front end that resembles that of the
facelifted road-legal model. Presented at the 2017 Essen Motor Show in Germany,
where it will be on display until December 10, the racer is ready for the 2018
season., with improved downforce and cooling, and less drag.
Mechanically, the 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
remains unchanged. This means that beneath that 40 cm wider body than the
production model lies the Group's MQB platform, and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder
turbocharged engine that's shared with the Golf R.
The unit makes 350 PS and 420 Nm of torque, and
allows this track-only Golf GTI to sprint from rest to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds.
Expected to carry a price tag of € 90,000, which
equals to US$ 106,852 at today's exchange rates, the updated racer wants to
continue the success of its predecessor, which won the TCR Class in the VLN
Endurance Championship on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, and proved itself
several times in the TCR International Series.
