Manual vs automatic.
Hot hatches can be fun on twisty roads, but they will also bring a smile to your face if you drive straight. The Honda Civic Type R, Volkswagen Golf GTI and Volkswagen Golf GTI are two of the most iconic hot hatches. It’s no surprise that Cars.co.za South Africa lined them up to race in a drag race. They chose to take the limited-run TCR version, not just Wolfsburg’s compact hatch.
The GTI TCR, a Golf Mk7-based GTI TCR, was a forbidden fruit in the United States. It had its turbocharged 2.0 liter gasoline engine tuned to 286 horsepower (213 Kilowatts) and 282 pound-feet (383 Newton-meters). VW’s front-wheel-drive hatch was sold exclusively with a dual clutch automatic gearbox, unlike the Civic Type R which had a manual transmission.
The Honda has a lot more power at 306 horsepower (228 kW) while the Honda packs a lot more torque at 295 lb-ft (405 Nm). The Civic Type R must carry about 220 pounds (100 kg) more than the Golf GTI TCR. Also, the stick shift can be a disadvantage during drag racing. The baby seat at the back was an additional bulky addition in this case.
The man behind the Civic Type R had an excellent start. We can’t speak for the Golf GTI TCR, as it had a slow start despite its launch control system. The VW was unable to move the Honda in the first half of the race, taking at least one second longer than the Honda. This drag race is one that needs to be redone, seeing as how the outcome could have been different if it was started by the Type R and the Golf.
We won’t see the next-generation Civic Type R for a while, but VW will likely unveil the new Golf GTI TCR within the next few weeks. It will replace the car shown here and pack 10 more horses than its predecessor.