What's all this about?

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport is coming in for a mid-cycle update, with tweaks to the exterior styling and enhancements to the interior.

I'm interested. What's new?

Designers have sought further differentiation with the GTI Clubsport over the ‘regular’ GTI. Starting with the front end, there is now an illuminated VW logo when the car is unlocked, which will impress some people. Due to this now being able to light up, the radar sensor for the adaptive cruise control that was previously housed inside is moved down to the base of the front bumper. That front apron has a broader, more pronounced opening than the GTI, with a large diameter honeycomb mesh. Now that black portion of the bumper has been upgraded from a matte plastic look to a painted high-gloss black,

Helping the GTI Clubsport stand out more is a larger rear spoiler that is open towards the roof to allow air to flow through it. Twin exhausts remain a feature of the GTI Clubsport, and an optional Akrapovi? system is available, which has been further enhanced for this version. The standard wheel for the GTI Clubsport is the diamond-cut 18-inch Richmond design, but Volkswagen has also created a new wheel called Queenstown. Available on the GTI and GTI Clubsport, its design was influenced by the Detroit wheel introduced on the MK5 GTI.

The GTI Clubsport can also be configured with a new high-gloss black 19-inch forged wheel called Warmenau, named after the location of Volkswagen’s R division. Weighing only 8kg, the Warmenau wheel is 20 per cent lighter than comparable wheels of the same size, thus reducing unsprung masses.

Any changes inside?

We can rejoice as Volkswagen has listened to much of the criticism levelled at the eighth-generation Golf and has reverted to installing physical buttons on the multifunction steering wheel. The haptic touch-sensitive setup may have been a technological innovation, but it wasn’t that nice to use and was prone to accidental touches, especially when turning the wheel. So VW has done the right thing in moving back to proper buttons.

The infotainment system also receives a minor upgrade with new software and a 12.9-inch touchscreen. As with other recent updates to Volkswagen’s models, the touchscreen now features illuminated sections for the volume and temperature controls along the touch bar at the base of the screen.

A 10.2-inch digital instrument display has several different configurations so drivers can prioritise what information they see, including a large classic-looking tachometer at the centre of the screen. On either side of this, smaller round instruments can show the turbocharger’s boost pressure and torque output in real-time.

What about the engine?

There are no hardware changes to the powertrain as the GTI Clubsport sticks with the same ‘EA888’ engine that appears throughout the Volkswagen Group. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor produces 300hp and 400Nm. These days there is no manual gearbox option, only the seven-speed DSG, but that does contribute to the fast acceleration: the 0-62mph dash takes only 5.6 seconds in the GTI Clubsport.

The top speed is electronically limited to 155mph, but if you want a little more, the optional Race package lifts the GTI Clubsport’s top speed to 167mph. To help reign in that performance, the GTI Clubsport gets larger 18-inch brakes on the front, whereas the 265hp GTI relies on 17-inch rotors.

The GTI Clubsport is also equipped with progressive steering, which is standard. This setup reduces steering effort at low speeds, such as when parking, and loads up at higher speeds to provide a nicer steering feel through bends. An electronically controlled locking differential is standard on the front axle and helps improve traction, particularly when exiting corners.

How much will all this cost?

We don't know yet, but we're expecting the Clubsport to arrive before the end of the year, and more details to be announced closer to the launch.