Volkswagen is celebrating 45 years of its venerable Golf GTI hot hatch with a new commemorative edition of the latest model.
It is the sixth such anniversary model the GTI has received in its lifetime, with Volkswagen having offered a similar conceived limited edition every five years since the Edition 20 in 1996.
Available to to order tomorrow from £39,980, the limited-run GTI Clubsport 45 is marked out with bespoke '45' branding, a contrasting black roof and matching rear wing - which, Volkswagen says, is a homage to the Mk1 GTI's black plastic rear spoiler.
Bespoke 19in 'Scottsdale' alloy wheels are painted black, with a narrow red pinstripe around the rim in tribute to historic GTI models, which wore a similar design for their front grilles.
Being a Clubsport, the special edition boosts output from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder to 296bhp and 295lb ft - from the standard GTI's 242bhp and 273lb ft - for a 0-62mph time of 5.6sec.
It is also equipped as standard with an exclusive Race package, which is unavailable on other GTI models, bringing an Akrapovic sports exhaust system and removing the 155mph maximum speed limiter (for a top speed of 166mph), while adding top-rung LED matrix headlights, which also feature subtle red detailing.
The commemorative theme is carried over to the interior, where a GTI motif is stitched into the front seat backrests and a 45 badge is applied to the bottom of the steering wheel.
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VW Golf GTI Clubsport: 296bhp range-topper on sale from £37,215
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What VW need to do is re-invent the Gti, maybe along the style of the old Scirroco?, maybe give it bit of EV help?, hatches, maybe like saloons,are on there way out , being replaced by crossovers,no, much as it was thee car to have when it first came out,now, it's, if you like, the senior Gti, the legend that past on its secrets.
I love the way manufacturers (and it seems gullible motoring journalists) link small, insignificant details of a vehicle to pay 'homage' to past models. The black wing spoiler and the original GTi rear one, the red line around the wheels and the GTi grille....
Its as if no other models from themselves, or any other manufacturers have ever featured these things. They forgot to mention it has glass windows just like the original did.
@xxxx
Good point, I clearly misread that on the Hyundai website. D'oh!!
Still, six grand is stil a fair old chunk of money!