The race began with a thrilling world premiere. Germany’s premier motorsport event has already delivered its first unforgettable moment: on Friday, during the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours, the new Golf GTI Clubsport was unveiled to a sea of eager fans.
This sporty, refined iteration of the classic model stands out with its sharper exterior design, upgraded interior, remarkable performance specs, and high-end sports suspension.
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport made a grand debut at the Ring Boulevard of the iconic Nürburgring track in the Eifel region. Motorsport enthusiasts were the first to lay eyes on this enhanced model, which boasts a completely redesigned front end, giving it a more powerful and distinctive look.
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The revamped standard LED Plus headlights and the newly illuminated VW logo at the front add to its striking appearance. A large roof spoiler at the rear ensures maximum downforce, complemented by redesigned LED tail light clusters.
The car is designed for performance both inside and out. The new 19-inch Queenstown alloy wheels feature a striking design of five oval semi-circles, evoking the classic Detroit wheel from the fifth-generation Golf GTI. As an added option, the Golf GTI Clubsport can be outfitted with the new 19-inch Warmenau forged wheels.
Weighing only eight kilograms per rim, these forged wheels reduce unsprung masses and enhance performance. The vehicle’s various functions and systems are coordinated via a newly developed multifunction leather sports steering wheel and an intuitive new infotainment system, allowing drivers to better focus on the road. The top-tier GTI model also features the new IDA voice assistant with ChatGPT integration.
Under the hood, the new Golf GTI Clubsport impresses just as much. Its GTI turbocharged engine (EA888 LK3 evo4) delivers 400 Nm of torque and 221 kW (300 PS), which are harnessed via an electronically controlled front differential lock. The DCC adaptive chassis control is available as an optional upgrade.
A standout feature of the Golf GTI Clubsport is its exclusive Special driving profile. This setting adjusts driving dynamics systems to the specific track characteristics of the Nürburgring, ensuring maximum performance by fine-tuning the DCC adaptive chassis control and modifying the lateral dynamics setup of the standard Vehicle Dynamics Manager.
The Golf GTI Clubsport sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, with its top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h. However, with the Race package, this limit can be increased to 267 km/h.
The world premiere of the Golf GTI Clubsport set the stage for the 24-hour race, where Volkswagen celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Golf. The Max Kruse Racing team, featuring drivers Benny Leuchter, Johan Kristoffersson, Nico Otto, and Heiko Hammel, participated in the event with a 256 kW (348 PS) Golf GTI Clubsport 24h.
Fans also had the chance to admire three classic first-generation Golf GTIs at the 24h Classic event, which preceded the main race. These vintage models included 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, all driven by the KWL Motorsport team.
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