More speed, sharper exterior styling and a blinged-up interior - this limited edition new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45 is a petrolhead’s dream come true.
The Golf GTI has been on the market since 1976, making it now 45 years old.
Chances are you’re reading this having once owned one yourself - or at least known someone who’s cherished a GTI. .
There’s a raft of different sporty Golf’s available, from the electric GTE, the standard GTI, and the diesel GTD. Sitting right at the top of the pile is the blistering, 320PS Golf R.
But sitting just below the R in the line-up is the 300 PS GTI Clubsport, which is as retro-inspired as it is track-focused.
And now the Clubsport has been given a further enhancement with the addition of this ‘45’ model which they’re calling a ‘ready made collector’s item’.
So what do you get for your money, considering it’s set to cost around three grand more than your common-or-garden Clubsport?
Power remains the same as the normal Clubsport, which means it can sprint from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, thanks to a turbocharged TSI engine. You also get the special driving mode honed for race tracks, as well as the huge Clubsport air intakes and unique roof spoiler.
But what’s different here is that you get a ‘Race’ package as standard, which includes a shouty sport exhaust system and the removal of the ‘Vmax’ limiter - which means top speed is no longer electronically limited to 155 mph.
The exterior boasts a striking black roof complete with black roof spoiler, in homage to the black-framed rear window of the first Golf GTI.
The Race package means 19-inch Scottsdale alloy wheels in a high-gloss black finish, with a narrow accent pinstripe detail in Tornado Red.
The Clubsport 45 series also features IQ.Light LED matrix headlights with the red trim strip which is included on all GTIs.
Meanwhile the interior of the anniversary model also showcases classic GTI insignia, with lettering on the backrests of the front sport seats, and a “45” badge slapped on the centre spoke of the multi-function sport steering wheel.
Highlighting the 45’s huge capabilities when it comes to high-speed handling, a VW spokesperson says:
“In autumn 2020 Volkswagen released the new Golf GTI Clubsport, a car which featured the first- ever instance of the standard electromechanical front-axle locking differential control being integrated into the driving dynamics manager network – as does the newly launched Clubsport 45. This intelligent connection sets a new benchmark in driving dynamics.”
Presales of the GTI Clubsport 45 begin next week.
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