Volkswagen has confirmed local cost and specification for its fastest-ever Golf GTI.
The Golf GTI 40 Years edition, as it will be known here after its original ‘Clubsport’ tag was ditched to avoid stepping on HSV’s toes, will be priced at $48,990 when it arrives this June.
At that price the 40 Years firmly nestles itself between the Golf GTI Performance ($46,490) and range-topping Golf R ($52,740) not only on price, but performance as well.
Volkswagen Australia has confirmed our 40 Years will not brandish smaller berries than its global counterparts and pack the full 195kW and 350Nm EA888 engine it was revealed with.
Funnily enough, our Oz-spec GTI 40 Years will also score an overboost function to bump power to 213kW/380Nm for 10 seconds at a time, which means it will make more power than an Aussie Golf R, which was detuned from 223kW EU-spec to 206kW.
VW’s labelled the car as a limited edition but can’t reveal how many will land here in total until closer to its launch, Kurt McGuinness, VW Public Relations Manager, told MOTOR.
In that same time customers do have the opportunity to place an order for the 40 Years, which is currently offered only with a six-speed dual clutch transmission.
Whether a six-speed manual will follow in future isn’t yet known, but VW’s trying. “I can’t confirm that there will be, but we are definitely interested in offering this car as a manual as well and we are working with the factory to get that as well,” he says.
Offered in red or white hues, Australia’s five-door 40 Years will be fully equipped, besides a $1850 sunroof, and feature much of what was seen on the car when it was confirmed for production. That includes its full aero-package, full styling options, alcantara draped seats and steering wheel, and 19-inch wheels.
Whether the rolling stock will be the model-exclusive ‘Brescia’ items we saw at Worthersee, or the ‘Pretoria’ style wheels on international-spec Clubsports (pictured) isn't clarified by VW. But we are excitedly asked to “watch this space…”.
We certainly will be for what may be the most involving Golf GTI ever.
