Limited-run Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S sold out

Volkswagen has confirmed that all 150 UK examples of its range-topping Golf GTI Clubsport S hot hatch have sold out on release. It costs £33,995 and first customer deliveries of the hardcore two-seater will begin in October.

Only 400 models will be built, with British buyers getting the lion's share. The GTI's popularity in the UK is allegedly "unmatched anywhere else in the world". The special VW Golf GTI Clubsport S was designed to celebrate 40 years of the iconic hot hatchback, and builds on the already potent 261bhp Clubsport.

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The Clubsport S has a retuned 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which boosts power to 306bhp and torque to 380Nm. It drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, propelling the car from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 165mph. Removing the rear seats helps the Clubsport S to lose a further 30kg over the already-extreme Clubsport, taking its weight down to 1360kg.

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Beyond the raw performance figures, though, the Clubsport S has been engineered for lap times at the Nurburgring - where it has posted a time of 7m 49.21sec. That’s a record for a front-wheel-drive production car, around a second and a half under the previous benchmark set by the Honda Civic Type R.

VW’s engineers have fitted a bespoke ‘Nurburgring setting’ in the Clubsport S’s Dynamic Chassis Control system, which adjusts the suspension and steering profiles.

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The Clubsport S is available in three colours that hark back to the original Mk1 GTI: red, white and black. The cabin gets bucket seats, bespoke ‘Honeycomb 40’ decals and an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel. Exterior tweaks include different front bumpers, a roof spoiler and a rear diffuser.

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