The new Golf GTI Clubsport celebrates its world premiere at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring

A fitting way to make its debut. The new Golf GTI Clubsport was unveiled on the Ring Boulevard at the legendary race track in the Eifel region in front of an enthusiastic crowd of motorsport fans. They were the first to get a look at the new enhanced model which, with its completely redesigned front end, now looks even more powerful and distinctive. The standard LED Plus headlights have been revamped. For the first time, the vehicle also features the illuminated VW logo at the front. A large roof spoiler at the rear ensures maximum downforce. The LED tail light clusters have also been redesigned.

Designed for performance inside and out. The 19-inch Queenstown 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 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 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.

Impressive performance. The new Golf GTI Clubsport is as impressive inside as out: the GTI turbocharged engine (EA888 LK3 evo4) delivers a torque of 400 Nm and an output of 221 kW (300 PS), which are brought to the road via an electronically controlled front differential lock. The DCC adaptive chassis control is available as optional equipment.

Another highlight of the Golf GTI Clubsport is the exclusive Special driving profile. This matches systems relevant for driving dynamics to the special track characteristics of the Nürburgring – in order to compensate for the undulations typical of the Nordschleife, maximum performance is achieved by means of a specific vertical setup of the DCC adaptive chassis control and a modified lateral dynamics setup of the standard Vehicle Dynamics Manager. The Golf GTI Clubsport accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds; the top speed of this most powerful of GTIs is electronically limited to 250 km/h. However, this limit can be lifted with the Race package – which raises the top speed to 267 km/h.

A racing weekend with the Golf taking centre stage. The world premiere of the Golf GTI Clubsport marked the start of the 24-hour race, in which the 50th anniversary of the Golf is the focal point for Volkswagen: The Max Kruse Racing team with drivers Benny Leuchter, Johan Kristoffersson, Nico Otto and Heiko Hammel are taking part in the much-loved event with a 256 kW (348 PS) Golf GTI Clubsport 24h. Fans will also be able to see three classic first-generation Golf GTIs at the 24h Classic, which takes place in the run-up to the main race. All three vehicles – a Golf GTI 16S Oettinger from 1981, a 78-series Golf GTI Kamei and an 80-series Golf GTI in GTI camouflage design with a “50 years of Golf” logo – are used by the KWL Motorsport team.