REIFNITZ (Austria): The Golf GTI Clubsport S is the most powerful version of the Golf GTI and was built to celebrate 40 years of the iconic hot hatchback.
This exclusive new vehicle, based on the Golf GTI Clubsport, makes its world premiere at the GTI event at Lake Wörthersee, Austria on May 4-7.
The production run will be limited to 400 cars worldwide, 100 of which will be delivered to customers in Germany. Colours will be limited to those of the original GTI: “Tornado Red”, “Pure White” and “Deep Black Pearl Effect”, with the roof painted black. The Clubsport S is based on the two-door model with a manual transmission, in order to keep the weight as low as possible.
It has a power output of 310 PS; 380Nm of torque between 1,700 and 5.300 rpm; 0 to 100kph acceleration in 5.8 seconds; a top speed of 260kph; and an unladen weight (including the driver and luggage) that has been reduced to 1,400kg. But the raw figures don’t tell the whole story, as the record lap time around the Nordschleife demonstrates how fast this car actually is.
German racing driver Benny Leuchter has just pushed the Golf GTI Clubsport S to smash the existing lap record for front-wheel-drive production cars on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with a time of 7 minutes, 49.21 seconds.
The Golf GTI Clubsport S has an exclusive setting for the most demanding racetrack in the world, which can be accessed using the driving profile selector. The car is fitted as standard with the individually configurable Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) and a driving profile selector. In the ‘Individual’ driving profile, the engineers have developed a setting that is fine-tuned to suit the unique conditions of the Nürburgring. The Comfort, Normal and Race settings are still available. The driver can still adjust the settings in the Individual profile, as usual, and can revert to the Nürburgring setting by resetting the Individual profile on the touchscreen menu. This unique configuration switches the Sound, Engine and Steering parameters in the Race profile as well as DCC to Comfort. However, in this instance an entirely different group of settings is hidden behind this option, instead of the normal Race and Comfort settings.
The Clubsport S is a pure two-seater. Doing away with the rear seats, including the central armrest, for example, accounts for the most noticeable weight saving. A smaller battery, as well as doing without insulation, the variable-height trunk floor, the rear parcel shelf, and the floor mats pushed the weight down yet further. An aluminum subframe for the front suspension and aluminum brake covers also shed weight.
On the other hand, 235/35 ZR Michelin tyres mounted on 19-inch “Pretoria” aluminium-alloy wheels, DCC, a strut brace, a partition net behind the seats and a carpet in the rear add some of that saving back, for a total weight reduction of approximately 66 pounds in comparison to a similarly equipped Golf GTI Clubsport. The unladen weight is 1,285kg, resulting in a dynamic power-to-weight ratio of 4kg per horsepower. Less weight also means greater fuel efficiency, with an NEDC rating of 172 g/km CO2.
The engineers achieved this boost in performance with a modified engine control unit and a new exhaust system: an increased diameter of 2.56 inches instead of 2.16 in reduces the exhaust backpressure and increases the performance. A side effect of the modifications is that the exhaust system produces a wonderful and deliberate ‘backfire’ under braking! In the course of the modifications the engineers also integrated a new fuel pump with increased throughput. The engine of the front-wheel drive Golf GTI Clubsport S is technically based on the 1,984 cc TSI engine that also powers the other versions of the Golf GTI and the Golf R.
Both the “Clubsport” and the “Clubsport S” have completely new front bumpers that improve engine induction, front end aero, and downforce. At the rear, the roof-edge spoiler is significantly larger on the Clubsport versions and results in significant amounts of additional rear downforce. In conjunction with a black rear diffuser, this two-part rear wing generates more downforce on the rear axle than on the front axle. In the case of the Golf GTI Clubsport S, this means that the understeer that is typical of front-wheel-drive cars is eliminated.
Other changes for the most exclusive Golf GTI include the following: semi-slick Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires mounted on 19-inch “Pretoria” alloy wheels, tinted rear windows that absorb 65 percent of the light, “Clubsport S” type plates, Bi-Xenon headlights with cornering lights and LED daytime running lights. The brake system was also modified to withstand the high temperatures inflicted at a racetrack. The disc bells are made of aluminium and are connected to the steel discs by cast location pins, allowing them to expand radially when they heat up. An important factor for the car's handling is that the unsprung mass of each wheel is 2.2 pounds lower thanks to the aluminum brake covers. To further improve the braking performance, the Golf GTI Clubsport S has special brake pads.
Each of the 400 Golf GTI Clubsport S cars made will have its production number (001/400 to 400/400) on the centre console in the front. The driver and the front seat passenger sit in racing bucket seats that provide the necessary lateral support while flying around the Nordschleife. The car also features GTI insignia that’s featured in the “normal” Golf GTI Clubsport, including the iconic golf ball shifter knob with Alcantara trim, a red line in the safety belts, “Honeycomb 40” design decals on the dashboard and doors, and elegant Piano Black accents. The grippy Alcantara-trimmed sport steering wheel, which has a chrome GTI emblem, red stitching and the 12-o'clock position marked out, was designed to be ergonomically suited for the track.
