Not everyone can afford a McLaren P1 GTR or A Ferrari FXX-K, so we are forced to turn to other cheaper track toys. VW has surprised us in the past with the R400, however the production version was geared toward road travel, not the track. Just recently however, VW introduced the race-spec Golf TCR. This is easily the most hardcore Golf we've ever seen-it is based on the powerful Golf R, but necessary racing features have been added, such as a full roll cage, racing steering wheel and a single racing seat.

That's right, it's so bent on track speed that it doesn't even have room for a passenger. The goal of this beast? VW Motorsports Director Jost Capito stated that the TCR will offer "production-based technology and reasonable costs" to provide "a new outlook for private racing teams." We certainly think VW has completed its mission. We love that power comes from the R's 2.0 turbo, tuned to produce 325 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque. To control all this power, an automated manual DSG transmission was put in place, along with wheel mounted paddle shifters. Additionally, the TCR's body is a whole 16 inches wider than the standard golf, has aggressive wheel arches, a vented hood and a rear wing.

VW is looking to speed up the production of this track monster, and to do so it will be tested at the four race weekends left in the international TCR series. VW is known more for Jettas, not race cars, so a move like this is pretty bold. Overall though, we think VW pulled it off and we can't wait to take this for a spin.