Fancy a VW Golf R but thinking all this damn leasing has made them too ubiquitous? Then behold the Golf GTI Clubsport - a new model created to celebrate the Golf's 40th anniversary with power hiked up to 290hp, just 10hp shy of the
Golf R
Aero to offer "ground-breaking handling properties"
Actually, that's not quite right. The two-litre turbo has been tweaked but to make 265hp, compared to 220hp in the standard car. A special boost function (activated simply by mashing the accelerator) pushes that 290hp for 10-second bursts, resulting in a 0-62mph time of six seconds dead, compared to 6.5 for the standard Golf.
No pricing has been given but we're told to expect it to be closer to the R list price (from £30,820) than the Golf GTI (starting at £27,500) when order books open in January. There's no special restriction on numbers so it's likely to be available through the normal lease channels as well.
If a price around £29,000 seems steep for a three-door special edition then be comforted by the fact that the Golf Performance pack with the VAQ active front limited slip diff comes as standard, even if it doesn't get the R's AWD system. You also get bucket seats instead of the standard sports seats.
Bucket seats stand out over standard sports seats
The most obvious changes are visual. The Clubsport is given some nifty looking aero work that VW reckons actually sharpens up the handling. In fact the press statement boldly claims that elements like the new multi-element roof spoiler "result in ground-breaking handling properties at high speeds and breathtaking cornering speeds".
We'll stick our necks on the line to say you'll probably still be breathing normally on your favourite roundabout in the Clubsport, but there's something quite appealing about those new air-deflector elements surrounding the strakes emanating from the fog lamps on the front bumper. We're also in the camp that likes the optional 19-inch 'Brescia' wheels seen in these snaps.
There's a nod to the original Golf GTI from 1976 in the black stripe running above the sills, this time bearing the Clubsport name. Of course in an Anniversary car there's the golf ball gear shift.
You also get a raft of small design tweaks to the interior. Those bucket seats are partly covered in Alcantara, and the wheel is fully covered in the same fake suede. There's some additional GTI letter on the sills and on the steering wheel, as well as a new honeycomb design for the strips on the doors and above the glove box.
A nice enough tweak to the Golf GTI then - but worth the expected £2,000 hike? A drive will tell us more, but interesting as always to hear your initial thoughts.