Order books are opening for the quickest and most powerful GTI in Volkswagen’s UK lineup. Customers will be able to order the Golf GTI Clubsport 45 starting tomorrow for £ 39,980. Powered by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four as the regular GTI, the Clubsport 45 squeezes 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque from the engine. It’s paired to a standard seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the front wheels.
That’s good enough for a 0-62 mph time of
just 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 166 mph. And to ensure the engine sings the
whole time, it gets an Akrapovic titanium sports exhaust system. To keep that
power under control, the GTI Clubsport 45 gets VW’s fancy dandy electromechanical
front-axle locking differential and XDS electronic locking diff. Along with the
Vehicle Dynamics Manager, the FWD keeps understeer to a minimum. It also has
bigger brakes and can be optioned with Dynamic Chassis Control that adds an
adaptive damper system to the car.
But the special edition is about more than
just performance. As the name would suggest, the GTI Clubsport 45 celebrates
the 45th anniversary of the legendary GTI nameplate. Although it didn’t start
the hot hatch market, it is the car that has long defined it and the Volkswagen
brand to many enthusiasts.
The GTI Clubsport 45 is “the latest in a
long line of GTI anniversary special editions, and offers a greater level of
dynamic engagement and agility than ever before,” says Lisa Hartley, Golf
product manager for VW UK. “The Clubsport 45 is a piece of Volkswagen heritage
in motion – the latest chapter in the ongoing Golf GTI story, 45 years –and
counting – in the making. It is no exaggeration to call the GTI an automotive
icon.”
