New VW Golf GTI Clubsport to be the fastest FWD Golf ever
The Clubsport will be the first UK-market VW to have an illuminated badge
Volkswagen's flagship GTI will be revealed at the Nürburgring 24 Hours on 31 May
The refreshed Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport will be the most powerful front-wheel-drive VW Golf ever made when it arrives later this year, according to the German brand.
Sporting a new, meaner-looking face than its predecessor and fitted with lowered suspension, the track-honed hot hatchback will also be the first UK-market VW to have an illuminated front badge – thanks to a recent local law change.
To be unveiled at the Nürburgring 24 Hours race next Friday, the flagship of the VW Golf GTI range is powered by the new Golf’s reworked turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, rated at 262bhp in the standard GTI.
VW has yet to disclose power figures for the Clubsport, but given the firm’s “most powerful ever” claim, the hatch is expected to arrive with more muscle than the current car’s 296bhp and 295lb ft, potentially pushing to match the Honda Civic Type R’s 310bhp.
Expect this extra power to be achieved by clever tweaks to the four-cylinder engine, such as the current Clubsport’s different turbo and revised cooling over the previous GTI.
Paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the uprated reserves are likely to enable the hatch to better its predecessor's 5.6sec 0-62mph time. Again, the Civic's 5.2sec is likely to be the target. Key to this, VW says, will be a new electronically controlled front differential, details of which are still under wraps.
Although still camouflaged before its official unveiling, the Clubsport is visually a raunchier offering than its already sporty GTI sibling.
The main changes are at the front, with squatter headlights, a lowered nose and reworked grille design all giving it a rather angry demeanour.
Elsewhere, as before, the Clubsport has a roof-mounted spoiler, reshaped rear end, and a new tail-light design. Sill extensions are fitted to give the car a more planted presence on the road.
It also gets a new leather sports steering wheel, track-focused infotainment system and optional 19in Warmenau3 forged alloys, which weigh just 8kg per wheel.
The Clubsport also receives an exclusive Special Driving Profile, designed specifically for chasing lap times on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife. Available only with the optional DCC adaptive chassis control, the set-up can mitigate the effects of the track's unique undulating layout.
Pricing for the Clubsport has yet to be announced but is likely to push the car north of £40,000, given the previous model’s £37,315 price.