VW Golf GTI Clubsport 45

Is this special special?

These days, no self-respecting manufacturer passes up the opportunity to flog us an anniversary special, no matter how tenuous that anniversary might be. Forty-five is an odd one, it has to be said, although Volkswagen has celebrated the Golf GTI’S birthday in reliable five-year increments since the Edition 30 of 2007, and some of those specials have been excellent, so we welcome another attempt.

There is something that needs addressing early, though. At £39,980, this new car – the Clubsport 45 – is not just the most expensive Golf GTI yet made but actually more expensive than the already-expensive Golf R.

That’s the Golf R that delivers 20bhp more from the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that the two models share; and that drives not only its front axle but also its rear, which is now equipped with clutch packs that really do up the 316bhp flagship model’s dynamic game.

Given the opportunity cost even within Volkswagen’s own ranks, just shy of £40,000 is an asking price that ensures some people will view the idea of Clubsport 45 ownership as a non-starter.

The extras you get for your money amount to an Akrapovic titanium exhaust, 19in Scottsdale wheels, sporadic ‘45’ branding and metallic-black finishing for the door mirrors and the hefty rear spoiler.

Those would be slim pickings, if the donor were the regular GTI. However, as the name suggests, the 45 is based on the GTI Clubsport, which is a more seriously developed proposition – and one that we like.

In Clubsport guise, the GTI gets 296bhp instead of 242bhp, its suspension is lowered, its front camber is increased not just by geometry tweaks but with new parts and its rear axle is tuned to be more mobile. Factor in a more aggressive e-differential up front and Golf R brakes and it’s an alluring recipe. Alas, there’s no manual option, but the current seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is awesomely effective.

Overall, the 45 is a fine hot hatch: catch-your-breath quick, reasonably communicative by modern standards and sharper than the base GTI. However, you get all that with the regular, £2750-cheaper Clubsport, and you won’t especially miss the rasp of the 45’s trick exhaust, nor the slight brittleness that its larger wheels impart on shoddy roads.