Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 turns up the heat

By CARSIFU | 7 April 2016


LONDON: The car that popularised the "hot hatch" phenomenon is 40 years old in 2016 and, to mark the occasion, Volkswagen has created the most potent iteration of the GTI to date.

The specially commissioned Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 celebrates four decades of a true automotive icon.

Powering this addition to the GTI range is a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine that delivers 265PS, making it the most powerful Golf GTI yet.

Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 2 (Custom)


Accelerate hard in third gear or higher and, for up to 10 seconds, an additional ‘overboost’ function increases the engine power to 290PS.

The engine – which delivers its 265 PS between 5,350 and 6,600 rpm – is technically based on the 1,984 cc TSI engine that appears in the award-winning Golf R.

This is a third generation EA 888 unit and maximum torque, under boost, is 350Nm.

Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 13 (Custom)


In the new Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 this power is channelled entirely to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed DSG.

The DSG version of the car has launch control as standard.

Just as with a track racer the Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 – which boasts an unladen weight of as little as 1,375kg, accelerates in a controlled manner from standstill using its maximum overboost power of up to 290PS.

Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 14 (Custom)


The 0-100kph time is a brisk 6.3 seconds.

The new Clubsport Edition 40 has a sport chassis with 15mm lower ride height.

Equipped with a front differential lock as well as the XDS+ vehicle dynamics function and progressive steering – which means significantly smaller steering inputs are required – the latest Golf GTI is all the more agile.

Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 15 (Custom)


Power is transferred to the road via 18-inch alloy wheels that are offered as standard with 225/40 tyres.

Optionally, the GTI Clubsport Edition 40 may be ordered with 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/35 tyres.

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