Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Inspired by Porsche, Volkswagen could unleash a 300-hp GTI designed for the track

Ronan Glon
By

Volkswagen GTI Clubsport
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Volkswagen celebrated the 40th birthday of the first-generation Golf GTI with a limited-edition model named Clubsport (pictured) that gains an array of go-fast goodies and a generous bump in power. The Wolfsburg-based car maker might up the ante once more with a faster evolution of the Clubsport designed primarily to hit the track.

Engineers followed the recipe that Porsche used to create the 911 GT3 Clubsport, which is aimed at buyers who want a street-legal track toy. Tentatively called Clubsport Lighweight, the hatchback uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 296 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque thanks to a host of minor changes such as a re-tuned turbo. Front-wheel drive remains the only configuration offered — all-wheel drive would cannibalize Golf R sales — but the ubiquitous turbo four can be bolted to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch unit controlled by shift paddles.

Recommended Videos

The rear bench and a good chunk of the GTI’s sound-deadening material have been tossed out to reduce weight. Performance specifications aren’t available; for what it’s worth, the 265-horsepower Clubsport sprints to 60 mph from a stop in 5.7 seconds.
Volkswagen is currently testing prototypes both on and off the track, and it sounds like the super-GTI is essentially ready for production. However, executives are debating whether or not to move forward with the project. While it’d certainly be popular among the enthusiast crowd, the company is worried about how a track car will be perceived in a time when it’s trying to forge itself a green, eco-friendly image in the wake of the Dieselgate scandal.

Related

British magazine Autocar has learned that Volkswagen will bring the GTI Clubsport Lightweight to the annual enthusiast meet that’s held next to Lake Wörthersee in Austria in May. Volkswagen will present the hatchback as a close-to-production concept in order to gauge the public’s reaction. If it’s approved for production, it will likely be limited to less than 100 units worldwide.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
This tuned Volkswagen Golf GTI sports a hologram-controlled audio system
Volkswagen Golf GTI Aurora concept

Previous

Next

Read more
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more