This evil-looking creation is the Volkswagen Golf TCR concept, the TCR standing for Touringcar Racer International Series. Planning to offer this as part of a possible customer racing programme for 2016 and beyond, Volkswagen is going to put two of them into the final four rounds of the TCRS for this campaign to accelerate development of the Golf. Liqui Moly Team Engstler is the team charged with running the Golf TCRs.
Working alongside SEAT's competition department - and thus taking know-how gleaned from the Leon Cup Racer - the Golf TCR uses an evolution of the EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder found in a Golf R or Leon Cupra. It develops 330hp and 410Nm in race trim, powering the front wheels through a six-speed DSG gearbox.
Externally, the TCR's crazy looks are provided by a body that's 400mm wider than, say, a Golf Mk7 TDI S, with an aerodynamically honed body kit that incorporates that front splitter and gargantuan rear carbon spoiler that can be seen from space. Internally, a racing seat, roll cage and safety fuel tank ensure it meets FIA regulations.
Anything else?
Volkswagen Motorsport's Director , Jost Capito - yes, that Jost Capito; how many can there be?! - said: "The newly created TCR category provides a promising platform for customer racing - on a national and international level. With exciting races, production-based technology and reasonable costs, it offers a new outlook for private racing teams. When developing the Golf-based concept car, we are able to fall back on the resources at Volkswagen. This reduces both development time and costs. We will also use the rest of the season to test the car under competitive conditions and evaluate a possible customer racing project from 2016."