VW Golf GTI Clubsport S Breaks Honda Civic Type R Nurburgring Record
There’s a new front-wheel-drive champion when it comes to Nurburgring lap times.
The VW Golf GTI Clubsport S has taken the crown from the Honda Civic Type R, posting a Nurburgring lap time of 7 minutes, 49.21 seconds. The exclusive new vehicle that is based on the Golf GTI Clubsport will make its debut at Lake Worthersee this week, sporting 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. According to the German automaker, the VW Golf GTI Clubsport S hits 62 mph from a standstill in 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of 162 mph, while tipping the scales at 2,998 pounds.
The hot hatch will be limited to just 400 units worldwide with 100 of them being delivered to customers in Germany. Colors will be limited to those of the original GTI, which include Tornado Red, Pure White and Deep Black Pearl Effect. And to keep weight as low as possible, it is based on the two-door Golf model with a manual transmission.
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As a pure two-seater, the VW Golf GTI Clubsport S also has a smaller battery and lacks insulation while the variable-height trunk floor, rear parcel shelf and the floor mats have pushed the weight down even further. Also assisting in the diet is an aluminum subframe for the front suspension and aluminum brake covers.
On all four corners of this exclusive Golf are 19-inch “Pretoria” wheels wrapped with Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires.
Given that the Golf R 400 has now been canceled, enthusiasts can take solace that Volkswagen is offering a Golf GTI Clubsport S that is quick enough to hold the lap record for front-wheel-drive vehicles at the Nurburgring.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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