Updated Golf GTI Clubsport to be unveiled come 1 June 2024

Volkswagen has announced that it will be presenting the updated Golf GTI Clubsport come 1 June 2024 at the ADAC 24h race at the Nurburgring.

A one-off example of the car, with an output of 343bhp, will be driven by motorsport stars such as Benny Leuchter and Johan Kristoffersson, and will be participating in the race with motorsport team Max Kruse Racing. This competing car will sport the racing number ‘50’, which Volkswagen states is a birthday gift from the race organiser, given to mark the Golf to mark its half-century milestone.

The Golf GTI Clubsport 24h will compete in the event with an engine running a Shell-developed ethanol-blend fuel that allows it to produce a total of 343bhp and 450Nm of torque

This racing car will take part in the AT3 class, as its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is powered by a new bioethanol fuel from technology partner Shell, a high-tech fuel E20. The extremely knock-resistant fuel is said to enable significantly more efficient operation of the near-production GTI engine.

The series production Golf GTI Clubsport will also be unveiled to the attendees of the event. Volkswagen states that the car will come with a completely redesigned front, which now sports revised head lights alongside an illuminated logo. Also set to appear on the car is a large roof spoiler and revised LED taillight clusters. The car will also sport new 19-inch alloy wheels. Set to feature five semi-circles, these are said to evoke to ‘Detroit’ wheels which were introduced on the fifth generation Golf GTI.

Also new for the car (just as we have seen on the GTI) is a newly developed multifunction leather sports steering wheel and a new infotainment system which comes complete with the voice assistant IDA with Chat GPT integration.

And yes, the Golf GTI will continue to feature a 'Special' driving profile, specially calibrating the car’s engine and DCC adaptive chassis control system for the undulations of the Nurburgring Nordschleife.