40 years of Volkswagen GTI and 35 years of Wörthersee celebrated as the most potent Golf GTI yet – the 286bhp Clubsport – goes on sale
As order books open on the new Golf GTI Clubsport, Volkswagen has also dropped the final instalment on its ‘Back to the Roots’ video series. Fans of John Amos may be disappointed to learn that the series doesn’t take a meaningful look at colonial times, but does – fortunately – offer some neat insight into both a pristine first generation Golf GTI and the 40 years that have landed between then and now.
Ah but wait, there’s more. While the three-part documentary looks at the rise of easily VW’s most popular hatchback to date, it also celebrates the 35th anniverary of Volkswagen Group’s Wörthersee meeting, famous for presenting some of the most lunatic VW creations to the motoring world that only an eight year old child’s fantasy could summon. Unsurprisingly, the GTI Clubsport – Volkwagen’s most potent GTI model ever – will be making an appearance at this year’s Wörthersee, as will, presumably, the racing GTI TCR.
[Not a valid template]Yes yes, I know you want to dive into VW GTI video nostalgia, but just let me give you some details. Powered by a 2-litre turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder, the Clubsport has up to 286bhp and 258lb ft torque on tap. Accelerate hard in third gear or higher and, for up to 10 seconds, an additional ‘overboost’ function increases that power to 290bhp. Power is directed entirely to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed DSG (with launch control). Top speed is limited to 250kph, while 0-100kph is done and dusted in 6.3 seconds, two-tenths faster than a standard GTI. Exterior changes are moderate (despite the new model riding 15mm lower than the standard GTI) but this still includes new front bumper, side sills, rear diffuser, multi-part roof spoiler, and some ‘Quaranta’ forged 18in alloys. Expect only 100 examples to be produced.
Okay, I’m done now. Back to the roots…
Source – Volkswagen
