Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45 edition launched

• Black roof and exclusive alloy wheels
• Race package included
• Over 2.3 million Golf GTIs sold in 45 years

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45 has broken cover. It’s the latest in a line of special-edition Golf GTIs, and celebrates 45 years since the introduction of the first performance Golf. We’re told UK prices will start at under £40,000 and that the car will go on sale in April. It’s only likely to be sold for one model year.

The Clubsport model brought far more aggressive styling than the regular GTI when it was launched, and the 45 edition adds further styling flourishes. You get black 19-inch alloy wheels complete with red piping, plus a black roof and spoiler and several ‘45’ decals.

Those wheels are part of the Race package, which is exclusive to the Clubsport 45 and fitted as standard. It also includes a sports exhaust system and a higher top speed; VW hasn’t yet released the top speed of the Clubsport 45 but the normal GTI is limited to 155mph.

Otherwise, the engine is unchanged from the normal Clubsport version, meaning a 296bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine and a 5.6-second 0-62mph time.

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Inside, there are more 45 badges and GTI lettering on the sports seats, while Matrix LED headlights are included too.

The Clubsport costs £37,215 at the time of writing but the Clubsport 45 may be more expensive than the four-wheel-drive Golf R, which starts at £39,270. These special-edition Golf GTI variants tend to keep their value, so there’ll be no shortage of enthusiasts keen to buy it when you come to sell it on.

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