OVERVIEW

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the Golf GTI Clubsport concept – but it’s a “concept” in name-only.

Set to be shown at this year’s annual Volkswagen-centric meet at Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia, Austria, the GTI Clubsport is a 265-horspeower version of VW’s venerable hot hatch that will actually go into production.

Even if it’s unlikely Volkswagen will offer the GTI Clubsport in North America, the stats are definitely worth daydreaming about. It has 35 more horsepower than the most powerful European-spec GTI and 45 more horsepower than the North American variant. There’s also an Overboost mode that adds 25 more ponies for a short period of time, but to keep it from firmly stepping on the Golf R‘s toes, the GTI Clubsport remains front-wheel-drive.

The car also wears a handful of visual tweaks, including an aero kit with a new front bumper, rear diffuser and a larger rear spoiler, along with new wheels and unique colours and trim on the inside.