The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S breaks records at the Nürburgring

The most efficient cars in the world are usually measured on the Nürburgring circuit, but not head to head; instead, the time they take to complete a lap is recorded. This competition makes it possible to know which car is the most imposing and fastest, even though they never face each other. The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport took on one of these tests and managed to beat vehicles with more power.

The lap time achieved was 07:49:21, beating the 7:50.63 set by the Honda Civic Type R and the 7:50.63 of the BMW M4, among others. This is quite significant, since the VW Golf GTI Clubsport has less power. Its recalibrated 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 306 CV and a maximum torque of 380 Nm across a range from 1,700 to 5,300 rpm.

One of the secrets to making the most of this model’s power is the 30 kg reduction on top of the already considerable weight loss of 30 kg that the new Golf GTI Clubsport edition achieved over its predecessor. The maximum weight is 1,280 kg, which gives a power-to-weight ratio of 4.15 kg/CV.

All of this has been achieved by eliminating elements that are not needed to set these times. The rear seats have been removed, and a smaller battery has been fitted, while heavier components have been replaced with much lighter and more practical ones.

Another trick is the use of a six-speed manual gearbox. The difference in response time that can be experienced between a manual and an automatic gearbox is offset by the lower weight of the manual one. The engineers Volkswagen have also worked to create a driving mode specifically for this iconic circuit, a setting that can be accessed through the Dynamic Chassis Control system.

Along with this, it should also be said that the addition of the S designation has brought aerodynamic improvements, and two sports seats have been added to the interior. Anyone wanting one of these cars will have to hurry, as this is a limited edition of just 400 units. Of these, 100 will go to the German market and 150 to the British market. The rest will reach other markets, though the United States will not be among them.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Golf28 versions · from 24,450 €