Clubsport version of the VW Golf GTI
Hot on the heels of the regular Mk8 Golf GTI, here’s the ’Ring-ready Clubsport version
Good things come to those who don’t wait. With the last-generation Golf GTI, the first Clubsport – widely agreed to be the best version – didn’t arrive until 2016, late in the Mk7’s life cycle. VW is determined not to repeat that mistake this time around, so with the ink still wet on the speeding fines of the first GTIs, here’s the lighter, sharper, more powerful Mk8 Clubsport.
Its 2.0-litre turbo four produces the same peak outputs as the previous-generation all-wheel-drive Golf R: 296bhp and 295lb ft, which should be good for a sub-6.0sec sprint to 62mph via front-wheel drive and a seven-speed DSG auto gearbox. Power delivery should be enhanced by the Clubsport having its electro-mechanical front differential newly linked to the Vehicle Dynamics Manager software.
The order books open later this year, with the price expected to be around £3500 more than the regular GTI’s £33,460. Unlike the Mk7, the new Clubsport is not a limited edition.
It’s clearly more eye-catching than the subtle GTI, and has an eyebrow-raising Nürburgring drive mode, but what has VW been up to under the skin? How have those increases of 54bhp and 22lb ft been achieved? And how does the chassis handle the extra performance?
Racing driver Benjamin Leuchter joins vehicle dynamics manager Karsten Schebsdat to talk us around the new car.
HOW’S THE CHASSIS DIFFERENT FROM A GTI? Karsten Schebsdat: ‘We’ve increased the spring rate on the front axle by five per cent and on the rear by 15 per cent. We’re very proud to implement forged aluminium wheels here – that gives us about 2kg reduction unsprung weight per wheel.
‘The Mk8 GTI’s Vehicle Dynamics Manager [software] is connected to the VAQ locking front differential now for more harmonic driving behaviour, better traction and response, and we’ve prioritised the initial steering response. An Akrapovič exhaust will be available later.’
WHAT ON EARTH IS NÜRBURGRING MODE?!
Benjamin Leuchter: ‘What it gives you is a special adjustment of the chassis, the dampers optimised to the ’Ring itself. It’s a real driver’s track that’s bumpy and with elevations, up- and downhill braking into corners. You shouldn’t set up the chassis too stiff or too soft.
‘With the Mk8 we have the ability to connect things together with the VAQ and [in Nürburgring mode] we bring it to the edge. It allows us a lot of fast laps on this track.’
WHY NO MANUAL VERSION?
Benjamin Leuchter: ‘With the ’Ring mode and a DSG, we also reduced the shift times. Compared to the regular GTI,
‘The Clubsport is 2.5 seconds quicker around our handling track than the standard GTI’ Benjamin Leuchter
we’ve improved downshifting speeds, dropping gears as early as possible. This allows you to reduce speed by engine braking. You can’t do that with a manual.’
HOW MUCH FASTER IS THE CLUBSPORT, REALLY? Benjamin Leuchter: ‘The standard GTI is already four seconds quicker around our Ehra handling track than the Mk7 GTI; with the Clubsport we’re faster again by around 2.5 seconds. At the ’Ring we achieved several laps which were around 7min 54sec – quite impressive. It’s a really rounded package, and we’re really happy with the result.’