The new Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has the seal of quality in its name: 40 years after the launch of the first Golf GTI, the customer racing version also possesses the acronym that, since 1976, has been synonymous with the Wolfsburg-based car maker’s sporting character, powerful engines and maximum performance. Since it was first unveiled in July 2015, the Golf has been hugely popular on the racetracks of this world: all the customer racing models for the 2016 season had already been snapped up by mid- January. 

Engine

Type- Straight-four engine with turbocharger and intercooling, transversally mounted in front of the front axle
Capacity- 1,984 cc
Output- 243 kW (330 hp) at 6,200 rpm
Torque- 410 Nm at 2,500 rpm
Bore/stroke- 82.5 mm/92.8 mm
Engine control unit- Continental SIMOS

The racetrack is not the only place the Golf GTI is celebrating its 40th birthday. To mark the anniversary, Volkswagen is launching the most powerful production GTI ever: the Golf GTI Clubsport. Volkswagen presented sketches of the new car at the GTI meeting at the Wörthersee in May 2015, before unveiling a production model at the International Motor Show (IAA) in September. The 2-litre TFSI engine generates 265 hp – that is 35 hp more than the previous most powerful Golf GTI. Another feature of the turbocharged direct-injection engine is a boost function, which allows the driver to briefly increase the engine power by ten per cent to 290 hp.