In 2016 the VW Golf GTI will celebrate 40 years, a ruby anniversary if I am not mistaken. Volkswagen has celebrated a few anniversaries in the past including marking the GTI’s 20th, 25th, 30th and 35th respectively. Now for the 40th VW has cooked up their most powerful production Golf GTI yet, the Volkswagen GTI Clubsport. So what have they done? Power is boosted from the regular GTI’s 210 hp (220 hp with the performance pack) to a much more serious 261bhp. It doesn’t stop the That’s not the end of the story, however, as the Clubsport features a boost function which temporarily boosts the power output to 286 hp when the gas pedal’s pushed past the kickdown stop.
You can choose between a six-speed manual or dual-clutch DSG gearbox. VW clains The Clubsport will go from reach 0-62mph in 5.9sec with the DSG gearbox, or a tenth slower with the manual. We launched the GTI with performance pack from 0-60 in 5.86 seconds, so with the extra power we expect the Clubsport to be considerably faster.
What’s Different?
The hot VW’s upgrades include a straked front fascia, side skirts, a rear diffuser, and a multi-piece rear spoiler. These additions are said to improve the GTI’s high-speed stability. Lovely forged-aluminum 18-inch wheels (19s are optional) seriously improve the GTI’s looks. The Clubsport also differentiates itself form the standard GTI by having a black-painted roof and door mirrors, darkened taillight lenses, faux-suede inserts for the seats, and a neat black strip on the body side that takes us back to the original GTI. Oh the memories.
Now for the bad news: This GTI Clubsport, which is the the most powerful production GTI ever, will, due to costs of federalizing the vehicle, not come to America. Boo Hoo. Europeans will be able to get one and we will have to fork out more money for the Golf R instead. It’s a small consolation…………….now please bring us the 400 hp Golf.
