For the Wörthesee event in Austria, Volkswagen have shown off their new Golf GTI Clubsport. Cutting straight to the chase, this latest reincarnation of the iconic hot-hatch is potent and packs plenty
of BHP It is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA888 petrol engine and whereas your standard Golf GTI comes with either 217bhp or 227bhp, this Clubsport packs a huge 261bhp. Incase you are sitting thinking that’s still not enough – the turbo can temporarily boost it’s pressure by 10% for when you really get the hammer down, meaning a temporary maximum output of 287bhp, in a front-wheel-drive hatchback. Given the burden of this immense power is a six-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox but there is also still a chance of the more traditional six-speed manual variation to be available when the car comes out next year as a 40th anniversary edition.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport is set to go on sale next year in 2016, marking the hot-hatch’s 40th anniversary. In these photos the Clubsport has 19-inch wheels, which VW do say will be lessened to 18-inches come production models. However, the bodykit – which consists of a newly designed front bumper, additional ducts which carry the purpose of cooling the front brakes and the black spikes sitting below the headlamps – will be relatively unchanged when the car hits the showrooms. There is also a new spoiler at the back alongside a restyled rear bumper with twin chromed tailpipes as well as black wing mirror housings and a black graphic at the bottom of the doors, harking back to the original 1976 GTI.
The price for the GTI Clubsport is set to be around £27,500 and will hit showrooms in the UK in 2016.
