- The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport will be revealed on May 31 ahead of the Nürburgring 24-hour race.
- VW says the updated Clubsport will be the most powerful front-wheel-drive Golf; specs are pending, but it should exceed its predecessor’s 296 hp.
- Along with more power, the new Clubsport has a restyled front end, a new taillight design, and a new drive mode designed for lapping the ‘Ring.
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport will officially break cover on May 31 ahead of the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Considering Volkswagen has downsized the North American Golf lineup rather than grown it in recent years, we’re pretty confident this is another Clubsport we won’t get.
A Mighty FWD GTI
The last Clubsport launched for 2021 as a 45th birthday celebration of the GTI. The new one’s launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Golf. Volkswagen confirmed that the new Clubsport will be the most powerful front-wheel-drive Golf, though the company neglected to offer any specifics beyond that.
Currently, the 2024 GTI that’s sold in the U.S. pumps out 241 horsepower. However, the 2025 model is getting a slew of updates. The European-spec also sees output increase to 262 horses, and the Golf R boasts 315 horsepower but features an exclusive all-wheel-drive system. Meanwhile, the 2021 Clubsport sat closer to the R on the power spectrum, churning out 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque from its 2.0-liter turbo four. We would expect the updated Club to meet or exceed the former figure.
The new Clubsport will also wear a different face than the standard GTI. The new version adds restyled headlights and an illuminated VW logo at the front. A set of redesigned taillights mark changes at the rear, and it rides on a fresh set of standard 19-inch wheels. Plus, lightweight forged 19-inch Warmenau wheels are also available.
While we technically haven’t seen the updated Clubsport without camouflaged wrappings, the available photos don’t leave much to the imagination. A special drive mode designed for lapping the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife is yet another one of the Clubsport’s exclusive features. A fitting addition considering where the car is launching.
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.