VW ringing in GTI's 40th birthday with GTI Clubsport edition
Volkswagen is celebrating the Golf GTI's 40th birthday with a special edition GTI Clubsport, a car the automaker is calling "the most powerful production GTI ever."
Set to debut at the Frankfurt auto show next week, the GTI Clubsport builds on the plenty peppy seventh generation GTI both in form and function, offering a new look both inside and out to go with a more powerful engine.
Powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-litre inline-four as the GTI, the GTI Clubsport makes 261 horsepower—a figure that temporarily jumps to 286 thanks to an overboost function that is activated when the throttle is fully pressed.
That helps the car sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in six seconds flat with the six-speed manual gearbox, and 5.9 seconds with the optional six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
The GTI Clubsport also boasts a completely new front bumper, new side sills, a new rear diffuser, a new multi-part roof spoiler and exclusive forged aluminum-alloy wheels for the anniversary model.
It also wears a wide black trim stripe, paying hommage to the first-gen GTI, and new twin exhaust pipes that are integrated in the rear diffuser.
The interior features racing seats partially covered with Alcantara, and new anniversary trim strips on the instrument panel, centre console and doors.
The GTI Clubsport's interior also includes Alcantara trim on the shift lever, and an Alcantara sport steering wheel.