If you ever thought that a bog-standard Volkswagen Golf GTI just isn’t speedy enough for you, before you write out that cheque for a Golf R, VW might have the solution for you. The all-new Golf GTI Clubsport is now the fastest and most powerful Golf GTI ever, offering an impressive level of performance in an accessible hot hatch. The highlight of the VW Golf GTI Clubsport is undoubtedly the powertrain. While it still carries the same, tried and tested EA888 LK3 evo4 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that you’d find in the Golf GTI and R, VW has upped the ante.
Now, the Golf GTI Clubsport and its turbocharged four-pot are able to crank out 300PS of power and an equally remarkable 400Nm of torque, all from a relatively tiny engine. All this power goes through an electronically-controlled front differential, and how Volkswagen is able to put this much power down without excessive amounts of torque steer is no less a work of Teutonic black magic. In addition, if you’re seeking more agility and sharpness from the all-new Golf GTI Clubsport and have it tip-toe under you, VW offers an optional DCC adaptive chassis control.
The Hottest Hatch You Can Buy Today
When it comes to electronics, VW has programmed an exclusive ‘Special’ driving mode in the VW Golf GTI Clubsport. This ought to bring out the sting in the Clubsport, with driving dynamics that were honed and fine-tuned on the Nürburgring. Given how bumpy and imperfect the road surface is on the Green Hell, VW has tweaked the aforementioned adaptive chassis control to compensate for a more specific set-up to cope with those conditions. So, to make sure you get optimal performance, it’s been calibrated accordingly through the Vehicle Dynamics Manager.
For you, this means nothing less than the best possible athleticism and power from the Mk8.5 Golf GTI architecture. It should manage a 0 to 100km/h sprint in a mere 5.6 seconds before it tops out at an electronically controlled 250km/h. But, if you option the Race package, VW will remove the limiter, letting you hit a mighty 267km/h… In a Golf. The unveiling of the Golf GTI Clubsport was no less fitting, given that it’s the 50th anniversary of the Golf. And, VW chose to reveal it to the backdrop of the Nürburgring 24 Hours, with a special race version in the works.
Taking On The Legendary Green Hell
Alas, no one outside of the Max Kruse Racing team and its lucky drivers will have the chance to wrangle this special Golf GTI Clubsport on the Nordschleife, but I expect it to do well, given VW has an extensive motorsports pedigree. This one has a bit more oomph than the roadgoing VW Golf GTI Clubsport, upwards to around 348PS. Still, there’s a lot more racing inspiration in the road cars than it might let on. Aside from the fact that the new Golf GTI Clubsport will feature an illuminated VW logo, a huge rear roof spoiler ensures that you get maximal downforce.
When you’re spec’ing the new Golf GTI Clubsport, you could pick and choose between two 19-inch alloy wheel options. One of them, optionally, is available in a forged construction. These ought to weigh just 8kg per wheel, helping you to further reduce unsprung mass and keeping its lithe handling in check. Also, the Golf GTI Clubsport should be previewing a bunch of new cabin design elements that we might see in future variations of the Mk8.5 Golf. This includes a new sports steering wheel, and an updated infotainment system, with ChatGPT built-in, too.
