The 2016 VW GTI Clubsport Is A 286 HP Hot Hatch With Tartan Seats Standard
By Paulo Acoba
Volkswagen went ahead and announced a new anniversary model for its VW GTI.
As is tradition, every five years Volkswagen takes its ever popular GTI and releases a special anniversary edition to celebrate the hot hatch’s iconic status. Earlier today (Sept. 9, 2015) Volkswagen dropped a press release announcing that for their 40th anniversary they’re unveiling a 286 HP Volkswagen GTI making this the most powerful GTI they’ve ever made. It seems like Volkswagen’s MQB platform is getting all sorts of power and upgrades for the Frankfurt Autoshow. First, Renault announced that their RenaultSport Megane 275 Cup S was being unveiled with 271 HP. Then a few days later, Seat unveiled its Seat Leon Cupra 290 with a generous 286 HP. It’s like they had some sort of partnership or something. Nevertheless, this VW marks a trio of MQB’s that will certainly steal a couple of MB’s of memory card space from photographers in Frankfurt.
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First there’s that lovely 2.0 turbocharged now to a whopping 261 HP ( when I said 286 HP, that was only half true.) VW has equipped the GTI with an overboost function that allows the GTI to sprint to 60 MPH in 5.9 seconds and stays on for a total of ten seconds. Top speed is limited at 155 MPH whether you go for the DSG or manual.
Paying homage to the originator back in 1976, the 2016 Clubsport GTI sports a black side strip down the side. If you follow the stripe, you’ll eventually get to a front intake air duct. Thanks to more power, the rear spoiler out back is a bit larger to improve handling at higher speeds. Keen eyes will also notice that the exhaust pipes have been integrated into the diffuser.
Inside, tartan seats come standard as well as a black headliner and golfball shift knob. The seats themselves are folding buckets rather than standard sport seats and there are touches of GTI interspersed throughout the cabin.
Sorry America as this special edition GTI is for Europe only.