Volkswagen has unveiled the Golf GTI TCR, a pared down, road-legal version of the touring car. With 286bhp, the TCR is supposed to slot between the 227bhp GTI and the similarly-powered Golf R.

Paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the front wheels, the TCR can do the century sprint in 5.6 seconds while top speed is 250km/h, with the option of increasing it to 260km/h. Compared to the GTI, the TCR can do the 0-100km/h sprint 0.8 seconds faster while the Golf R, with its AWD drivetrain is still pretty much uncomparable with a 4.6 seconds timing.

Inside, things stay pretty much the same other than the new front sports seats with unique fabric designs.

Elsewhere, the Golf GTI TCR gets a new front lip, side skirt extensions, a more aggressive roof spoiler and rear diffuser. The standard 18-inch wheels are also new and the car gets a limited slip differential too.

Buyers can opt for two packages with the first one offering DCC adaptive suspension, stiffer rear damping, a 260km/h speed limiter and 19-inch wheels. The second one goes one step further and adds stickier tyres to a different set of 19-inch wheels. It also gets wheel locks with anti-theft protection.