Golf GTI by Superchips

For only £435 this Superchips conversion will turn your MkVI GTI into a front-wheel drive Golf R, for a fraction of the cost. And it’s not just a case of searing acceleration either – the ECU remap gives the whole car an edgier feel from the exhaust note to the throttle response. But there’s a downside – install the software and you can kiss your manufacturer’s warranty goodbye - a big risk to take. If you’re feeling brave though, it’s a bargain for the thrills on offer.  

It’s a matter of weeks before the 266bhp, all-wheel drive Golf R goes on sale in January. But if you can’t wait until then, or don’t like the look of its £28,930 price tag, there is an alternative...

ECU expert Superchips has worked its magic on the Golf GTI, remapping its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine to produce 256bhp and 377Nm of torque – a whole 49bhp and 97Nm more than the stock GTI and 27Nm more than the ‘R’. What’s more, if you already own a Golf GTI MkVI, this extra performance is yours for a one-off conversion charge of £435.

Customers can have the remap installed either by visiting a Superchips dealer, or DIY-style via the firm’s patented Blue Fin handset, which arrives through the post. We’d advise the latter, not only because plugging in the handset and uploading the remap is a cinch, but the Bluefin unit will store the GTI’s factory settings so you can revert back to the original 207bhp any time you like.

There’s no doubt the GTI leads the way in the hot-hatch sector when it comes to refinement, handling and a supernatural blend of performance and everyday usability. But it lags behind rivals from the likes of Ford and SEAT when it comes to outright power… Well not anymore.

It’s hard to believe that such a simple two-minute process can have such a profound effect on a car’s character. Fire up the engine and after a cough and a splutter as the ECU finds its new parameters, it settles with a noticeably more aggressive growl from the twin exhausts.

As the ECU conversion is the only mechanical change to the GTI, all the main controls, including the steering, brakes and gearshift feel instantly familiar. In the bends it has the same sublime balance and offers detailed feedback through the steering wheel. Combine this dynamic ability with 256bhp and the result is driving experience strangely similar the front-wheel drive Scirocco R.

Plant your right foot and the snap of acceleration makes the standard GTI feel sluggish. The extra performance, accompanied by the raucous exhaust note gives the whole driving experience a rawer edge, but the suspension is still supple enough to absorb the worst British B-roads can throw at it. In fact, it covers ground at such at rate that the 300bhp Focus RS would have its work cut out keeping up.

So what’s the downside? Well the moment you press go on the Bluefin handset the manufacturer’s warranty is invalidated. In its place Superchips offers its own cover that matches what’s left of the manufacturer’s warranty, but will only stump up if the fault is to do with the Superchips software. But if you’re feeling brave the huge performance gains more than justify the price.

Rival: VW Golf R
We haven't been allowed behind the wheel of the hottest ever Golf yet, but on paper it promises to be a cracker. With 266bhp from a tuned version of the GTI's 2.0-litre turbo powerplant and four-wheel drive it should have enough power and grip to leave it rivals trailing in its wake. Check back here in Decmeber for our definitive first drive verdict.