Just because Volkswagen is in the midst of a massive scandal over its emissions-cheating diesel cars, doesn’t mean it can’t party from time to time. The company announced Tuesday that it’s building a 305-hp version of the GTI Clubsport (pictured above) it unveiled last fall that’s set to debut next week at the Wörthersee festival in Austria.
Per Jalopnik, the GTI Clubsport S won’t just get a healthy power increase over the 261-hp Clubsport, but will also get some significant weight savings. VW hasn’t said exactly what the Clubsport S will weigh, but it won’t have back seats and some of the sound deadening will be removed. The Clubsport S will also get stiffer suspension and a louder exhaust.
Unlike the current range-topping Golf R, the GTI Clubsport S will send all its power to the front wheels. The standard Clubsport is offered with a six-speed manual or dual-clutch gearbox, so hopefully the Clubsport S will retain the optional clutch pedal. We’re told that only 400 examples of the Clubsport S will be built but, unlike the Golf R, none of them will be coming to the U.S.
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VW says the Clubsport S will be set up for driving on the Nürburgring, so perhaps it’s gunning to unseat the Honda Civic Type R as the fastest front-d...