The Golf GTI celebrating motorsport success that recently released here has already been shown up by an equivalent in the next-gen line still months from NZ launch.

AS Kiwis are seeing off the seventh-generation Golf GTi with a hot version that’s an ode to motorsport, Volkswagen’s home market is preparing for an even spicier equivalent in the all-new family arriving here next year.

The announcement several days ago from VW headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, of a Clubsport version of the really new – as in, generation eight model that is set to replace the variant still on sale here – Golf GTI has been a surprise.

Generally, VW practice has been to deliver fizzed up specials of the world’s most famous hot hatch only after the core versions have settled into sale. 

In this instance, though, the Clubsport – a name that could probably be legitimately promoted in NZ by VW because the original user, Holden Special Vehicles, ceases to be at the end of this month – is being introduced just a few months after the latest GTI has hit production.

When, or even if, the Clubsport reaches NZ is up in the air. The new Golf that it derives from is coming, of course, but has been delayed until 2021, Covid-19 delays having ruined the original plan to have it here by Xmas.

Meantime, VW New Zealand is working to push out remaining stock of the seventh-gen car that, of course, was discontinued in Europe months ago.

Part of that runout has been to bring in the Golf GTI TCR, a $65,990 special edition with an interesting back story, in that it celebrates the brand’s success in a motorsport category that has been promoted as a potential for NZ, yet has yet to reach the grid.

That’s the FIA’s Touring Car Racing motorsport formula; VW won the TCR title when the series was running red hot in Europe and seemed set to become the next bi thing globally. You might recall seeing the cars run in Australia last year. The concept was set to also come to NZ … but, then, Covid hit. Also, some brands also pulled back their support. One of those being VW. 

The end result is that it has a Golf GTI TCR that celebrates being in a category it no longer involves in at manufacturer level. 

Whether that really matters is moot. NZ has 40 TCR units and basically all have been accounted for. So it’s also done a great job of keeping this evergreen hot hatchback competitive. The allure is more power – whereas the regular GTI makes 180kW the TCR has 213kW. 

That’s courtesy of it having a version of the 2017 GTi Clubsport Edition 40’s ‘EA888’ 2.0-litre turbo four pot that’s been updated with new software management, furnished with a couple of extra radiators, and made WLTP-emissions compliant. 

The TCR also gets VW’s electronic locking ‘eDiff’ as standard, but it adds the sizable composite brake discs and 17in calipers of the old GTI Clubsport S, as well as forged 18in alloy wheels. It comes as standard with passive suspension developed from that of the GTI Performance, with revalved, firmed-up dampers, and with shortened, stiffened coil springs that drop the car 5mm. 

Nice car, right?

The new (meaning, in case you’re confused, gen right) GTI Clubsport also seems set to have the same status. 

Most of the exterior changes to the very latest, still in Europe Golf GTI that denote it as a Clubsport model are designed to enhance the car's aerodynamic performance. There’s a redesigned bumper incorporating a splitter-like lower spoiler and larger open area for engine cooling. The default wheel is an 18-incher, sitting on 225/30 R18 tyres, but potentially it will have 19s in export form. 

A side sill graphic sets the Clubsport apart, though its most prominent feature is a new two-tier roof spoiler at the back. Restyled exhaust outlets are further apart than in the regular GTI and the diffuser between them has been redesigned.

It also runs that EA888 engine, but in an evo four tune that increase the power to 3223kW and pushes torque to 400Nm, so a 30Nm gain on the optimal claimed for the standard gen-eight Golf GTI and 50Nm more than the TCR has.

That's all sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox and the official 0-100kmh time is six seconds (0.3 seconds quicker than the standard car).

Considerable changes have been made to the chassis, starting with a 15mm reduction in ride height. The McPherson front struts and four-link rear axle layout are retained, but there is increased positive camber on the front and the variable ratio steering is more direct.

As in the regular GTI, there is the XDS 'electronic differential lock' system and the electromechanical locking differential called VAQ (for 'Vorderachsquersperre' in German, meaning simply 'front axle differential lock').

Both are under the control of the Vehicle Dynamics Manager system that debuts on the gen eight GTI, as are the shock absorbers of the optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). All of this has been ramped up for the Clubsport with an emphasis on response, reducing understeer and allowing higher cornering entry and exit speeds and traction on a racetrack.

Actually, there’s a special driving profile that has been optimised for driving at one particular racing circuit. Surely you know it’s name?

Anyway, according to Benjamin Leuchter, a racing driver employed by Volkswagen to help develop the Clubsport's driving dynamics, the Clubsport when put into ‘special’ mode is up to 13 seconds per lap faster than a regular GTI around the Nurburgring Nordschleife.