VW has quietly released design sketches of the Golf GTI Clubsport, which previews a limited edition model that will slot in between the Golf GTI Performance and the Golf R in the automaker’s hot hatch lineup.
Scheduled to be unveiled at the Wörthersee GTI Meeting next week, the Golf GTI Clubsport is a “near series” vehicle, which likely means it’s a thinly disguised production model.
For the Clubsport, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine has been tuned to produce 265PS (261hp), 35PS more than the Golf GTI Performance and 35PS less than the range-topping Golf R.
The model is said to also feature a boost function, which will provide an extra dose of torque for short periods of time. In combination with the front locking differential, this should make the Golf GTI Clubsport an interesting car to drive, to say the least. From a design point of view, the limited edition model features a more aggressive front bumper with new air intakes, larger wheels, as well as a more imposing roof spoiler.
According to German media, VW will build the Golf GTI Clubsport in a limited run from 2016, as a gift for the Golf GTI’s 40th anniversary. Prices are estimated to start from €34,000 (about $38,200 at today’s exchange rates). With the Golf R400 also expected to arrive next year, 2016 promises to be a very interesting year for fans of quick Golfs.
PHOTO GALLERY
