296-hp Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport is Too Good to Be True… in Canada
Volkswagen today introduced a high-performance version of the Golf GTI on the eve of the Nürburgring 24 Hours in Germany and as part of the celebration of the iconic Golf’s 50th anniversary.
Continuing the Clubsport tradition, this exclusive, track-ready model is too good to be true, as the title above suggests. The automaker has no plans to offer it in North America, unsurprisingly.
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Engineers have cranked up the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine to nearly 300 horsepower—296, to be exact—and increased peak torque to 295 lb-ft. That’s 34 horsepower and 22 lb-ft more than the updated 2025 Golf GTI, which itself packs an extra 21 horsepower over the outgoing 2024 model. Power is brought to the road via an electronically controlled front differential lock. DCC adaptive chassis control is available as optional equipment.
The Golf GTI Clubsport further stands out with an exclusive drive mode called “Special” that matches the car’s systems to the unique track characteristics of the Nürburgring in order to compensate for the undulations typical of the Nordschleife. By the way, the Clubsport accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (or 267 km/h with the Race package).
The only transmission available is a seven-speed dual-clutch unit. In case you somehow forgot, the six-speed manual is not returning for the 2025 model year.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen designers have largely revised the Golf GTI’s front end and the lower section in particular. The standard LED Plus headlights have been revamped, and for the first time, the car also features the illuminated VW logo at the front. The 19-inch Queenstown alloy wheels are also new, evoking the classic Detroit wheels that were introduced for the fifth-generation Golf GTI. Lighter forged wheels in the same size are optional.
In the rear, the LED taillights feature an updated look. A large roof spoiler at the top of the hatch ensures maximum downforce.
As for the interior, the Clubsport merely gets a newly developed sports steering wheel and a new infotainment system, the latter complete with a voice assistant that’s powered by ChatGPT. Nothing new about the seats, curiously.
It sure would be nice to have this Golf GTI Clubsport in Canada. Then again, we’d rather make the jump to the 315-horsepower, AWD-equipped Golf R, honestly. Speaking of which, an update to the Golf R is coming for 2025, too. Details will be shared pretty soon, so watch this space for more information.