New VW Golf GTI TCR 2020 pricing and spec detailed: Honda Civic Type R-rivalling cost for hot hatch swansong

Volkswagen’s Golf GTI TCR will land in Australian showrooms in July wearing a $51,490 before on-road costs pricetag, and will be limited to just 300 units as the swansong to the current 7.5-generation hot hatch.

Positioned between the $46,690 front-drive GTI and $55,490 all-paw R, pricing also puts the GTI TCR up against the $51,990 Honda Civic Type R, $52,990 Renault Megane RS Trophy and $52,140 Subaru WRX STI.

However, with an increase to price also comes an increase to performance, with VW turning up the wick on the Golf’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.

Power jumps from 180kW to 213kW, matching the superseded GTI 40 Years of 2016 and the current Aussie-spec R, but torque actually drops from 370Nm to 350Nm.

With drive sent to the front axle via a six-speed wet-clutch DSG automatic, the Golf GTI TCR can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in an estimated 5.7 seconds – 0.6s quicker and 0.9s slower than the GTI 40 Years and R respectively.

Other changes in the GTI TCR include adaptive chassis control, performance front brakes, stiffer and 5mm-lower suspension, and a freer flowing exhaust.

From the outside, the TCR wears 19-inch wheels, blacked out roof and mirror caps, honeycomb side decals, and dynamic cornering LED headlights, while inside the new Golf GTI gains Alcantara seats, black and red interior, and a new steering wheel with perforated leather and a red 12 o’clock stripe.

The only option available to the GTI TCR is a $1900 glass panoramic sunroof.

Exterior colour options are also limited to Pure White, Tornado Red and Pure Grey.