Video: this is how the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 8 sounds

The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf (road test) has stirred all kinds of feelings among today’s public. The sporty variants have had the same effect, among which the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport stands out once again. The German brand has revived this name in an effort to offer an very interesting middle ground between the conventional GTI and the R. However, until now we knew relatively little about the Clubsport, but this video sheds some light by letting us hear its sound.

Let’s recall that it was in the early stages of the seventh generation when Volkswagen launched the GTI Clubsport to the market, a variant that also boasted an even more radical version with the S suffix. Now, the people from Wolfsburg have repeated the recipe but improved the ingredients, aiming to offer a spicier car than the GTI without stealing the spotlight from the more powerful R.

With this eighth installment, we once again find a more radical styling. This section is led by a newly designed rear spoiler, sporty bumpers, a specific splitter and diffuser, and a dual side exhaust outlet that promised what we find in this video: a very catchy soundtrack.

However, this would not be possible without a conductor up to the task. On this occasion, Volkswagen’s engineers have opted for the well-known 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that powers its siblings in the range. Specifically, this engine produces 300 CV and 400 Nm of torque, figures that allow it to accelerate from 0 to 100 in 5.6 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

It is true that anti-pollution measures and particulate filters are taking their toll on exhaust melodies, but Volkswagen has managed to avoid this to a certain extent. After the bland melody of the GTI and the thunderous roar of the Golf R, courtesy of the Akrapovic exhaust, we find a very successful middle ground courtesy of the GTI Clubsport, complemented by a series of very catchy pops and crackles.

https://youtu.be/vehXVDpRpHY

Volkswagen intends for the Golf GTI Clubsport to be precisely that: a very interesting middle ground, capable of offering more sportiness than the GTI but not as much restraint as the Golf R. In this way, the German brand aims to win over those who are unsure which sporty compact to choose, which is understandable given how crowded the market has become.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Golf28 versions · from 24,450 €