Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S gets an aluminium subframe on front axle

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S has shed weight thanks to the use of aluminium in many of its core components. At 306bhp and with 280lb ft of torque, the most powerful GTI ever produced has set a new front-wheel drive Nürburgring lap record, with a time of 7:49:21.

The all new Clubsport S is based on the 'standard' GTI Clubsport and has been produced as part of Volkswagen's 40th anniversary celebrations of the GTI.

Modifications to the car over a standard GTI are extensive. The Clubsport S has an unladen weight of 1285kg, which is a significant drop over the standard two door GTI's 1348kg. The standard Clubsport itself is 30kg heavier than the S.

This is in part due to the removal of the rear seats and central armrest, as well as the use of a smaller battery. Other changes include removal of sound insulating material and the use of an aluminium subframe on the front axle. In place of the rear seats is a strut brace and a partition net.

Tyres come in the form of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s sat on 19-inch 'Pretoria' alloy wheels. The brake system is also unique to the Clubsport S and features aluminium brake bells and covers, reducing unsprung mass by a kilogram per wheel. Volkswagen claims the modifications will further improve the brake's performance on track and includes more track orientated pads on the car straight from the factory.