Volkswagen GTI Clubsport Set to Debut in Frankfurt

VW GTI Clubsport (Credit: © Volkswagen)

Back in May, at VW’s Worthersee event, the German automaker unveiled a sexy GTI Clubsport concept. It was no mystery that this would eventually make its way to production, and today VW has confirmed this by unveiling the production version of the GTI Clubsport to celebrate the GTI’s 40th anniversary.

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Unsurprisingly, the production version of the GTI Clubsport is nearly identical to the concept version. In fact, they are so similar that I couldn’t spot a single difference between the two. Like the concept, the production model’s exterior comes coated in Oryx White with a contrasting black roof, spoiler, and accent lines down the sides that pay homage to the 1976 GTI.

Also carrying over from the concept is the fully redesigned bumper, side sills, rear diffuser, and 18-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels.

VW GTI Clubsport (Credit: © Volkswagen)

Under its hood, this 40th Anniversary special edition carries the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine as the standard GTI. However, this engine has its power cranked up to 195 kW (261 horsepower), which is a 33 kW (44-horsepower) gain over the standard GTI. What’s more, there is a 10-second overboost function that pushes peak output to 213 kW (286 horsepower), putting it dangerously close to the Golf R.

This extra power results in a 0-to-60 sprint of six seconds with the standard six-speed manual transmission. With the optional six-speed dual-clutch unit, this sprint time drops to 5.9 seconds. Both transmission toss the power to the front wheels only.

VW GTI Clubsport (Credit: © Volkswagen)

Inside the cabin, VW spruces the GTI Clubsport up for the model’s 40th birthday. This special model gains a golf-ball shifter knob, a black headliner, racing bucket seats wrapped is partial Alcantara, “Honeycomb 40” trim strips on the instrument panel, center console and doors, Alcantara-wrapped shifter and steering wheel, custom red-trimmed floor mats, and stainless steel scuff plates with red “GTI” lettering.

The GTI Clubsport will make its in-the-metal debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, but VW did not announce an anticipated release date. There is also no information on whether the Clubsport will be available in the U.S. or not. Chance are that it will not make it Stateside.