Volkswagen's just-unveiled Golf-based race car
concept looks like a GTI that's gone on an intake bender, pumped up its guns at
the gym, and popped some roll-cage Viagra. Yet, the Golf's most notable feature
is that it's just a Golf, sort of. There is no "R" badging anywhere,
and Volkswagen stresses that the race car is simply a heavily modified, good
ol' Golf, and its front-wheel drive!
Volkswagen
Created to evaluate Volkswagen's possible participation in
the new Touring Car Racer International Series (TCR), the Golf TCR concept is
less "concept car" than full-blown, ready-to-race race car. It routes
330 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four (okay, the engine was
borrowed from the
Golf R) to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic. The
chassis is 40 cm wider—that's a mind-blowing 15.75 inches!—a move we assume was
made for greater stability and to make room for those ultra-wide 18-inch
wheels.
The front and rear bumpers feature gaping vents and intakes
seemingly inspired by the wild-looking Volkswagen
Design Vision GTI concept from 2013, augmented by a carbon-fiber
splitter and a towering rear wing. Inside, there's a full safety cage, a racing
seat with harnesses, and a minimum of carpet, interior plastics, or visual
banality. If Volkswagen's evaluation of this concept car is successful, we
could see customer cars just like it race in TCR in 2016.
source: car and driver
by Alexander Stoklosa
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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