The limited-edition Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S has set a new Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for front-wheel drive cars with a time of 07:49:21.
GERMAN RACING DRIVER Benny Leuchter has set a new lap record of the Nürburgring steering the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S around the ‘Green Hell’ in a time of 07:49:21. This beats the recent front-wheel drive record set by the Honda Civic Type R of 07:50:63.
According to Volkswagen’s head of chassis tuning, Karsten Schebsdat, the idea for the Golf GTI Clubsport S originated when the team responsible for the “normal” GTI at Volkswagen tested the final version of the current Golf GTI Performance on the racetrack. “It was obvious to all of us that this GTI had immense potential so we decided to get the most performance possible out of this car. A small team went through the entire process, from bottom to top, pretty much like it was back when the first Golf GTI came into being.”
“To neutralise the understeer and at the same time boost grip levels, we counteracted understeer on the front axle and specially designed the hub carriers”, resulting in higher camber angles. The negative camber increases the potential for directional control, thus optimising the grip on the front axle, Schebsdat said.
The Golf GTI Clubsport S is the most powerful Golf GTI ever and is based on the Golf GTI Clubsport. Developed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Golf GTI it is limited to just 400 units and produces 228kW and 380Nm of torque between 1700-5300kg. It’ll get to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of 265km/h with a kerb weight of 1285kg.
Volkswagen set out to race for the record with the GTI Clubsport S receiving a setting Nürburgring setting which can be accessed via the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). “In the ‘Individual’ driving profile, the engineers have developed a setting that is fine-tuned to suit the unique conditions of the Nürburgring. Over and above that, the driving profiles Comfort, Normal and Race are also available,” Volkswagen said. The DCC alters sound, engine and steering parameters.
Limited to just 400 units around the world, the GTI Clubsport S will be two-door only with a manual gearbox, and is a two seater only. The stripped out Clubsport S doesn’t have rear seats, or a central armrest, the battery is smaller and much of the insulation has been removed, as has the variable luggage compartment floor, the rear parcel shelf, the floor mats and the bonnet damping. An aluminium subframe on the front axle and aluminium brake covers result in further weight savings. All up this saved 30kg of weight.
Aerodynamics were also key in getting the Clubsport S to go faster and so both it and the lesser Clubsport feature a unique front bumper as well as a roof-edge spoiler at the rear that was aerodynamically perfected in the wind tunnel, and is significantly larger on the Clubsport versions than its counterpart on the Golf GTI and Golf GTI Performance, results in significantly optimised aerodynamics.
Volkswagen Australia has already announced it will sell the lesser Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 Years Edition, which is known as the Clubsport in other markets. It offers 195kW and will sell here from $48,990.
That’s impressive but yet again we will get detuned version due to the BS about our hot weather and I’ll guarantee this will be dearer than Ford Focus RS. At this level of power I’ll take the awd Focus, far more tuning potential