2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S gets 306 hp, quicker than Golf R!



Just last year, the Volkswagen GTI Clubsport was deemed to be the sportiest GTI ever. Now they have made it even better, resulting an additional letter at the end of its name. The 306 hp Volkswagen GTI Clubsport S is not only the most powerful GTI in history, it even eclipses the Golf R’s horse count. Yikes.

It’s no secret that the Clubsport S was created with “the Green Hell” in mind, because the Nürburgring Nordschleife record for the front-wheel drive production car does not get broken by accident. In the hands of racing driver Benny Leuchter, the Clubsport S crosses the line in 7 minutes 49.21 seconds. For comparison, the previous record was held by the Honda Civic Type R in 7 minutes 50.63 seconds.2016-Volkswagen-Golf-GTI-Clubsport-S-004

It looks just like the Golf GTI Clubsport we saw last year (bespoke front bumper, bi-level rear roof spoiler, subtle skirts all-round) except that the side panel now says “Clubsport S”. It’s also fitted with a set of 19-inch “Pretoria” alloys and the tailpipes are a tiny bit bigger in diameter.

Under the bonnet lies the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder TSI EA888 unit, but it has been given a new ECU and fitted with a new exhaust system. So the performance figures now reads 306 hp, 380 Nm, 5.8 seconds to 100 km/h, and 265 km/h maximum speed. And the driver have to work himself out with the six-speed manual transmission to get the front wheels spinning. No DSG nonsense here.2016-Volkswagen-Golf-GTI-Clubsport-S-005

While there’s the usual Comfort, Normal, and Race driving profile, there’s a dedicated Nürburgring setting in the Individual driving profile that the engineers claim to suit the Green Hell’s conditions. Revisions to both front and rear axle geometry help kill understeer, and more grip is provided by the Michelin Sport Cup 2 semi slicks fitted as standard.

A further 30kg have been shed from the GTI Clubsport S – anything unnecessary has been thrown out of the window to keep the weight as low as possible. Who needs the rear parcel shelf and the rear seats anyway? Although, the interior is still equipped with a pair of lovely bucket seats and Alcantara wrapped golf ball gearknob and sports steering wheel.2016-Volkswagen-Golf-GTI-Clubsport-S-017

Lovely isn’t it? Well here comes the bad news. There will only be 400 copies of the GTI Clubsport S worldwide so you have to pray hard for this two-seater special to make it here in Malaysia.


IMAGE GALLERY