The iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI is turning 50 and, to celebrate, the German car-maker has revealed the Mk8 VW Golf GTI Clubsport at the Nurburgring ADAC 24 Hour race.
Shown alongside the standard, facelifted Mk8.5 GTI (which will pack more impressive 195kW/370Nm outputs when it arrives Down Under in the first half of 2025), the 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport, which is not yet confirmed for Australia, ups the ante with a 221kW/400Nm version of the LK3 evo4-spec EA888 four-cylinder – enough to stop the 0-100km/h clock in 5.6 seconds.
That makes it 0.3sec quicker than the upgraded 2025 Golf GTI, but both models are limited to 250km/h unless you opt for the Clubsport’s optional Race package, which elevates the limiter to 267km/h.
A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is the only transmission being offered on Clubsport, as per the rest of the performance Golf and Cupra Leon portfolios.
As shown in the revealing teasers previously, the Clubsport adopts a more menacing aesthetic compared to the standard GTI, featuring Golf R-inspired bumpers, a gloss-black ribbed spoiler, grille, diffuser and other trim bits, plus diamond-cut 18-inch alloys and a dual-exit Akrapovic sports exhaust system.
In Europe, the Clubsport can be optioned with 19-inch Warmenau forged alloys that weighs only 8kg per wheel, or about 20 per cent less than the stock units.
An illuminated ‘VW’ badge and redesigned Matrix LED headlight and tail-light clusters (the former with 15 per cent more high-beam range) add an extra level of sophistication to the ensemble.
Helping harness the extra firepower is a new ‘Special’ drive mode on top of the standard GTI’s Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual settings, along with the latest version of Volkswagen’s electronic front-axle ‘differential lock’ and progressive power steering.
Inside the cabin you’ll find the same upgraded 12.9-inch infotainment system as the regular GTI – still with the irritating temperature sliders – along with a matching 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster offering different displays and layouts.
The Digital Cockpit Pro layout allows drivers to switch between three graphic configurations via the steering wheel, including a classical round dial set-up complete with digital and traditional tachos revving to 8000rpm.
Volkswagen Australia has confirmed to carsales it’s always interested in any GTI products, but doesn’t have any concrete plans to import the Clubsport at this stage.