It’s time to blow out the candles with a crackling twin-exit exhaust: the Golf GTI is now 45 years old. VW has a tradition of wheeling out a special anniversary version every five years , some thing it’s done since the GTI 20th Anniversary, and this period is no different.

The vehicular birthday dessert substitute is the Golf GTI Clubsport 45. It perfectly follows the last Clubsport, an additional anniversary special which was known as the Clubsport Edition forty in the UK market.

It uses the new Mk8 version from the Clubsport being a starting point, and although strength remains the same at 297bhp, there are plenty of other goodies to take pleasure from. It gets some special looks courtesy of a dark roof and black roofing spoiler, the latter element influenced by the black-framed rear windowpane used on the Mk1 GTI. ‘45’ stickers on the back doors further mark this particular out as no ordinary Clubsport.

VW has additionally fitted an exclusive ‘Race package’ as standard, providing shine black ‘Scottsdale’ 19-inch metal wheels and a top speed limiter removal, which gives a 169mph top speed. We reckon you will be able to crack 170 using a tailwind.

Inside you can find snazzy sports seats partly clad with a honeycomb design on pattern, and an unique ‘45’ logo on the controls. You might have noticed the Golfing 8’s weird gear selector nubbin poking out of the center console – that’ll become on all models. According to the standard Clubsport, the forty five is available only with a seven-speed dual clutch ‘DSG’ transmission. No manual here, we are afraid.

Orders can kick off on 1 Mar with a starting price of €47, 790 in Germany. Uk sales should follow within April, and although UNITED KINGDOM pricing hasn’t been verified just yet, the expectation is perfect for the 45 to come within at just under £40, 500. The standard Clubsport, for evaluation, is £37, 215.