What's the news?
Blame Renault Sport. They started the unhealthy obsession that hot hatch manufacturers hold with laptimes around a poky track in western Germany. In 2008, a stripped-out, caged Megane on sticky rubber known as the R26.R went around the Nurburging Nordschleife in 8 minutes 16.9 seconds, and in doing so started a war that shows no signs of abating. SEAT, Renault and Honda have all held the title for fastest front-wheel-drive production car around the fearsome circuit for periods since then, with mutterings querying the showroom-readiness of the particular cars used to set the records never far away. ''Development'' tyres, air-conditioning ripped out and seats left in the pitlane tell their own story of how serious manufacturers can be in the chase for times. Still, any car capable of a sub-eight minute lap is one seriously capable machine and Volkswagen, the original hot hatch gurus, feel the time is right to have a go itself.
It's retort is the Golf GTI Clubsport S, which follows the time-honoured formula of adding power and lightness. The former comes from ECU, fuel pump and exhaust tweaks to the 2.0-litre turbo petrol found in the existing GTI and Golf R models, and the latter is achieved through a fairly ruthless diet which includes binning the rear seats, sound deadening and fitting an aluminium subframe for the front suspension. All in, this equates to 306hp and 1285kg, substantial improvements on the standard GTI and Clubsport versions, not exactly slouches themselves.
Chassis-wise, a new setting optimised for the 'Ring is included in the driving modes, and is selectable and tweakable from the normal interface. This may also be quite relevant for road use, thanks to its focus on improved body control and damping along with sharper throttle response. The ubiquitous Michelin Sport Cup 2 forms the bond between car and tar, with a recalibrated ESC and electronic differential ensuring that none of the Wolfsburg horses are wasted on corner exit. To facilitate repeated stops from lairy speeds, the braking system features lighter aluminium components and track-orientated pads. There is no DSG option, with Volkswagen feeling that a manual 'box is more in keeping with the car's character.
The design changes over the regular Clubsport include a black-painted roof, deep bucket seats and individual production number on the centre console (out of the 400 two-door only models to be made). Three colours are available, Tornado Red, Pure White and Deep Black Pearl Effect, all recognisable to aficionados of the original GTI. Exclusivity is therefore guaranteed for the most hardcore Golf GTI to date, and you can bet on a significant price increase over the regular model when details are released.
Anything else?
Oh yes, the laptime. Benny Leuchter hustled a rollcage and harness equipped, but otherwise standard Clubsport S around in 7 minutes 49.2 seconds, just eclipsing Honda's new Civic Type R and therefore setting a new record in the process. That's only two seconds slower than a Porsche 996 GT3 RS... Where will it all end?