By: IOL Motoring Staff
Wolfsburg, Germany - Could there possibly be a better way to celebrate the Golf GTI's 40th anniversary than by launching the most powerful production GTI ever?
Though the iconic hot hatch only turns 40 early next year, VW's present to itself is making an early appearance, at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week.
This is the production version of the Clubsport concept that was revealed back in May and it essentially brings a lot more voomah into the GTI world but without stepping on the Golf R's toes.
Slotting between the 169kW GTI PP and the R, which produces 221kW in European spec, the GTI Clubsport's 2-litre turbopetrol is tuned to 195kW, although the engine will kick out 213kW for up to 10 seconds on overboost. Off the mark, this new GTI will sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds flat in the case of the six-speed DSG version, while the manual model does it in six seconds flat. The two have respective top speeds of 249 and 250km/h while claimed fuel consumption amounts to 6.7 and 6.9 l/100km.
Volkswagen has also fine-tuned the aerodynamics for “significantly improved downforce” and the hot hatch has been treated to a more muscular design, complete with a redesigned front bumper, side sills, rear diffuser, 18-inch alloys (19-inch Bresica rims are optional) and a black roof area.
Inside, the driver is greeted by racing bucket seats, an Alcantara-covered steering wheel, custom floor mats and exclusive stainless steel door sill plates.
But is it coming here?
According to VWSA we will only find out if it's coming here after its European launch in early 2016.