Skip to main content

33 Years of GTI Development: GTI Pirelli and GTI Clubsport Meet at Portimão

  • Iconic cars united at the circuit in Portimão: Golf GTI Pirelli and Golf GTI Clubsport 

Two legends meet each other for the first time. Both are anniversary models, furnished with the three magical letters GTI – the synonym for sportiness and dynamic handling at Volkswagen – and with “a touch more GTI” on board.
But that’s then it already with things they have in common: for while the first anniversary model, the Golf GTI Pirelli, came onto the market in 1983 with 112 PS, the latest anniversary model, the Golf GTI Clubsport, has a much more powerful engine, delivering 265 PS.

Portimão, a race circuit in southern Portugal is the perfect place in the autumn to compare and contrast the two protagonists. With its 1.8-litre engine the Pirelli Golf represented cutting-edge engineering in 1983 and shortly before production of the Golf Mk1 GTI ended rolled off the line as a limited edition special series. The Golf GTI Clubsport is its counterpart.

Volkswagen is bringing out this treat for GTI fans to coincide with the 40th birthday of the Golf GTI next year. In normal mode the 265 PS 2.0-litre TSI engine develops an impressive 350 Newton metres of torque. However, the special feature of the latest anniversary model is the temporary boost function, which enables 290 PS and 380 Newton metres of torque to be delivered for up to ten seconds. This extra power is accessed by kicking down on the throttle. The result is acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, which makes it the most powerful full-production GTI of all time.

The version with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG) is additionally equipped with ‘Launch Control’, which – in similar fashion to motorsport – accelerates the car away from a standing start with maximum power in a controlled manner.

Volkswagen has not only made the Clubsport’s turbo engine more powerful, but has also perfectly adapted the car’s design, aerodynamics and trim. Motorsport-style downforce levels are provided by a new front bumper, a striking rear spoiler and a diffuser. Semi-slicks, approved for use on the road, are being offered by Volkswagen as an option. Nor are the ergonomics overlooked: available for the Golf GTI Clubsport are either standard sports bucket seats or classic GTI sports seats. Volkswagen is also selling the new model with two-tone paintwork as standard.

The Golf GTI Clubsport and the Golf GTI Pirelli are not the only GTI special series ever produced. On the car’s 20th, 25th, 30th and 35th birthdays Volkswagen also dedicated an anniversary model to the GTI icon of the time. The Golf GTI Clubsport will set pulses racing – and for some time to come will set new standards as well…

The post 33 Years of GTI Development: GTI Pirelli and GTI Clubsport Meet at Portimão appeared first on VWVortex.



from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1leZuh0
via IFTTT

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Watch: The Stig Drives (nearly) Seven Generations of Golf GTI

With Volkswagen announcing “major” updates to the Golf, it seems an appropriate time to look back on what we’ve had so far. And who better to guide us through the rich history of the most popular European car ever made than Ben Collins, the former Stig? Some say he’s never met a GTI he doesn’t love, and that he can’t grow any of his own facial hair. All we know is … Ben Collins is actually a pretty solid presenter. Working his way through seven generations of the GTI (skipping over the Mk6) Collins tells us a little bit about each one and matches each mark to its corresponding facial hair craze. The Mk1 GTI for instance, is light and quick, but can lose traction under hard acceleration (in heavy rain). Despite that, Collins calls the Mk1 a “pure gem.” The Mk4, meanwhile, is a powerful return to form after the perhaps too sensible Mk3. Collins ends in the only way he could, with the Mk7, which accelerates faster than a Lamborghini Countach and is all kinds of wonderful. Watch, ...

Watch: The Story of the Ads that Made VW Big in America

The ads for the original Beetle are almost as famous and well-loved as the Beetle itself. Looking back now it’s easy to forget, though, just how easily things could have wrong. A new short from Dial M Films tracks the history of those early Volkswagen ads that sold America on the people’s car. The story, of course, begins with the visionary agency that made the ads: Doyle Dane Bernach (DDB). As a popular agency for Jewish products, no agency was more aware of the implications of Volkswagen, and no one, it seems, was more skeptical of the brand than DDB. “Remember Those Great Volkswagen Ads?” from Dial M Films on Vimeo . William Bernbach, though, was adament that the firm take the client, probably as a way of attracting other lucrative automotive clients. Saddled with a client that he didn’t want, art director Helmut Krone says in the film that he originally came up with ads that were all wrong. Krone tried to do what other manufacturers did and was intent on selling the Beetle ...

Watch: The Zerouno Cruis’n USA

ItalDesign is drumming up excitement for its new supercar based around the same 5.2-liter Audi V10 that powers the R8. Naturally, it hit the road for a cruise around California last week to celebrate Monterey Car Week. There isn’t much in the way of V10 noise—which is a real shame given the sound it makes—but you do at least get a good look at the car inside and out in this video. With a body made entirely of carbon fiber and designed to be as aerodynamic and light as possible, ItalDesign figures that it will be good for a 0-60 time of just 3.2 seconds. “We put it our best skills into the production of the first car,” said Massimo Bovi, head of pre-series production, when the Zerouno was first unveiled in Geneva earlier this year. “Using some of the finest productions methods and engaging our high-skilled workers.” The car features clever aero tricks gleaned from single-seat racing, like a y-duct up front to improve downforce and turn-in. Available in a number of trim levels, the...