VW invites drivers to join the GTi Club

To mark the 40th anniversary of the original hot hatchback, Volkswagen has built a special edition Golf GTi Clubsport model.

The new version, detailed on Wednesday and due to go on sale early 2016, offers 261bhp making it the most powerful Golf GTi in history, and that output translates into a rather impressive 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds.

Very impressive for something that is equally at home on winding roads and motorways as it is on the school run or supermarket carpark.

As well as more grunt, the Clubsport takes a number of styling cues from the 1976 original including bucket seats finished in tartan fabric and a contrasting exterior paint finish. However, it is also totally up to date in terms of aerodynamics and creature comforts.

The 2016 Golf GTi Clubsport will make its official debut at the Frankfurst Motorshow on September 17.