ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE FASTEST PRODUCTION GOLF TO DATE

To date the Golf, now in its 50th year, has been one of the most successful cars to be produced by Volkswagen and in the top three of all time best sellers. Back in 1974 it arrived on the motoring scene, a follow on model from the hugely successful Beetle. Along the way, the Golf was also named Rabbit in the USA and Carible in Mexico and I can be numbered amongst the many who at one stage owned a Golf. Mine was a diesel and to this day it remains as one of my favourite cars; it delivered outstanding economy and pleasing performance. I have to admit I yearned for a GTI, but high insurance costs put a block on my purchase ideas.

I have been fortunate to test drive a version from every generation and I observed the continuing target to offer more in terms of equipment and performance. Now comes news of a performance packed newcomer with 300PS, the GTI Clubsport. Sports styling inside and out: with its GTI turbocharged engine it delivers a torque of 400 Nm and an output of 221 kW, which are brought to the road via an electronically controlled front differential lock; while the DCC adaptive chassis control is available as optional. There are many highlights with this new addition to the Golf family; the exclusive special driving profile which matches systems relevant for driving dynamics to the special track characteristics of the Nurburgring in order to compensate for the undulations typical of the Nordschleife, maximum performance is achieved by means of a specific vertical set up of the DCC adaptive chassis control and a modified lateral dynamics set up of the standard vehicle dynamics manager.

Performance, the Golf GTI Clubsport accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h/62mph in 5.6 seconds and the top speed of this most powerful of GTIs is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155mph) and this limit can be lifted with the Race package, which raises the top speed to 267 km/h (165mph). The newcomer rids on 19 inch Queenstown alloy wheels, they are also new, a striking design of five oval semi-circles, which evoke the classic Detroit wheel, which was introduced for the fifth-generation GTI. As a further option, the new 19 inch Warmenau forged wheel, with a weight of only eight kilograms per wheel rim, the forged wheels reduce the unsprung masses and thus optimise performance. The various functions and systems of the new Golf GTI Clubsport are coordinated using a newly developed multifunction leather sports steering wheel and a new infotainment system. It is intuitive and makes it possible for you to concentrate even better on the road ahead. The new top-of-the-range GTI model also features the new IDA voice assistant with ChatGPT integration. Well done Volkswagen for delivering a Golf which will be equally at ease on the open road or at a race circuit.

The 19-inch Queenstown2 alloy wheels are also new. With their striking design of five oval semi-circles, they evoke the classic Detroit wheel, which was introduced for the fifth-generation Golf GTI. As a further option, the Golf GTI Clubsport can now be configured with the new 19-inch Warmenau2 forged wheel. With a weight of only eight kilograms per wheel rim, the forged wheels reduce the unsprung masses and thus optimise performance. The Golf GTI Clubsport’s various functions and systems are coordinated using a newly developed multifunction leather sports steering wheel and a new infotainment system. It is intuitive and makes it possible for the driver to concentrate even better on the road ahead. The new top-of-the-range GTI model also features the new IDA voice assistant with ChatGPT integration.

Ian Lynas