The Mk7.5 VW Golf GTI TCR is an excellent hot hatch and despite how impressive it is from the factory, the owner of this example has made it even quicker.
As standard, the 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 four-cylinder of the Golf GTI TCR delivers 286 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque and can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in a claimed 5.7 seconds. Eager for some extra power, the owner of this GTI TCR has had the engine remapped and 200-cell cat downpipes installed. All up, it delivers approximately 400 hp, which is a lot for a car that sends its power exclusively through the front wheels.
Driven: 2020 VW Golf GTI TCR Is What The GTI Should Have Always Been
The guys over at AutoTopNL recently had the opportunity to put the modified Golf through its paces on both some country roads and then the Autobahn. While testing the hot hatch out in a straight line, they were able to record a rolling 100 km/h – 200 km/h (62 – 124 mph) time of 10.01 seconds, which was only slightly slower than the 9.94 second time of a 450 hp Golf R they tested and slightly quicker than the 10.06 time recorded by a 450 hp Audi RS3 Sportback. This time also makes this Golf GTI TCR slightly quicker than a brand new BMW M240i xDrive.
After hitting an unrestricted section of the Autobahn, the driver pinned the throttle and pushed the car all the way to 286 km/h (177 mph). Admittedly, that number was recorded on the speedometer and wouldn’t be completely accurate but there’s no denying that this Golf is a serious performer.