Car Review: Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport
The iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI is turning 40 this year. Can you believe it? It was launched back in 1976 but we only saw it arrive in South Africa in 1982…this has to be a sign, this is the same year I was born! Hashtag just saying!
The reason South Africa is calling this the GTI Clubsport and not what the rest of the world is calling Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 is because we haven’t had it for 40 years exactly. But with that said, we have seen a lot of excitement around the Clubsport’s arrival here at home, probably because we are such a GTI-loving country. In fact, the GTI Clubsport S, which is the fastest front-wheel production car on the Nürburgring race track, is set to come to South Africa in November. Only 400 of these cars will be made worldwide and 47 units, that’s more than 10%, will be headed to SA.
But back to the Clubsport that has just landed here. This is the fastest GTI since GTI! That means this 2,0-litre TSI engine develops 195 kW of power and 350 N.m of torque. The ‘regular’ GTI puts out 162 kW of power. Before you shout at me and tell me that the Golf R puts out a whopping 206 kW and 380 N.m, the R is not a GTI!
This Clubsport has a new front bumper, rear spoiler, diffuser and side sills. The side profile is inspired by the 1976 GTI with the black stripe. It has a two-piece rear spoiler to reduce air turbulence and increases downforce. It also sports enlarged chrome-plated tailpipes.
The interior gets the GTI emblem on the steering wheel with a red seam and 12 O’Clock marking like the old racing cars had. You can opt for the sport bucket seats otherwise you will get the standard Vienna leather sports seats. The seat belts also have the red line which gives it that GTI feel. The Clubsport rides on 18-inch alloy wheels as standard but you can opt for the 19-inch wheels.
GTI’s drawcard is that it is comfortable but also quick. The standard GTI isn’t mind bogglingly fast, but it’s just enough to have a bit of fun with. That said, it might not be enough for the real car enthusiasts, those who would much rather opt for the Golf R. So the Clubsport is what you could call the Goldilocks of the bunch, just right!
It doesn’t come cheap at R540 200, but I am sure the GTI enthusiasts of this town will revel in this limited edition model and we will still see a significant amount of Clubsports on our road.
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI PRICING OVERALL
- 2,0 TSI 162 kW manual: R465 500
- 2,0 TSI 162 kW DSG: R481 500
- 2,0 TSI 169 kW Performance Pack DSG: R501 500
- 2,0 TSI 195 kW Clubsport DSG: R540 200
Watch the GTI quarter mile sprint I filmed at Killarney in Cape Town