Volkswagen has released sketches of what will be its fastest Golf yet, the GTI TCR. It is the road-going version of the 350hp Golf GTI TCR racer, which participates in the World Touring Car Cup series.

It gets 290hp, which is more power than the Golf GTI Performance’s 245hp but less than the Golf R's 310hp. With the limiter removed, the Golf GTI TCR can reach a maximum speed of 264kph, 15kph more than the Golf R.

The Golf GTI TCR is similar in concept to the limited-edition 2016 Clubsport Edition 40, which marked the Golf GTI’s 40th birthday and was a top-of-the-range GTI that sat just below the Golf R.

It will also undercut the GTI Performance model’s 0-100kph benchmark sprint of 6.2sec, although the time has not yet been confirmed.

The turbo engine delivers the 290hp at 5,000-6,800rpm, while maximum torque is 370Nm. It uses a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox and gets a front-axle differential lock that VW promises means "perfect traction".

The model will be fully revealed at VW's famous annual GTI meet at Wörthersee on May 10, with sales commencing at the end of the year.

With the new Golf arriving next year and plenty of talk about the next-generation Golf GTI, VW will be keen to maintain interest in the latter as it approaches run-out. This latest special-edition model will help achieve this.

The next-generation Golf GTI is set to adopt a mild-hybrid powertrain that promises to boost performance and refinement while reducing fuel consumption and emissions compared with the current model.