Volkswagen Celebrates 45 Years of the GTI With the Golf GTI Clubsport 45

Forty-five years ago, in the summer of 1976, Volkswagen launched a new, faster version of its already popular Golf: the GTI. Fast forward to today, and the German car maker is celebrating the occasion with this, the Golf GTI Clubsport 45.

But first, the sad news: There do not appear to be any plans to bring the GTI Clubsport 45—or the normal Clubsport model for that matter—to North America.

Dry up those tears? Good. Let’s move on.

Based on the potent, 295-horsepower GTI Clubsport, the 45 shares the Clubsport’s “front-axle locking” differential, 18-inch brakes, front splitter, rear spoiler, seven-speed DSG transmission, and unique “adaptive chassis control”—a system that analyses current driving conditions and makes changes that best optimize the car's performance.

The “Race Package,” optional equipment on the Clubsport but standard on the 45, adds an exhaust system and removes the 155 mph speed limiter.

While the Clubsport and Clubsport 45 are not currently available in the United States, preorders for “selected European countries” starts March 1, with a starting price of around $58,000.

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