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2016 VW GTI Clubsport is a new breed of forbidden fruit

And this, friends, is the closest we'll ever get to the Volkswagen GTI Clubsport. As we were sad to report, this middle child between the standard GTI and the high-performance Golf R will not be coming to our shores, no matter how much we beg and plead. For those that need a refresher, the Clubsport was inspired by a concept originally shown at Worhtersee earlier this year. Its positioning means it's up on power – there are 261 (probably underrated) horsepower in this compact – although mum's the word on any upgrades to the suspension. As we previously noted, the extra 51 hp over stock will get the mid-level hot hatch to 60 in just 5.9 seconds, if you opt for the dual-clutch automatic, or an even six seconds with the manual trans. Loathe as we are to admit it, aside from the extra horsepower, most of the stuff about the Clubsport appears to be aesthetic. The body kit is all new and significantly more aggressive than the what's found on the GTI, while new 18-inch wheels are standard, although 19s can be optioned. Also larger, the twin chrome exhaust tips. In the cabin, there are far more aggressive sport seats, which are quite simply too cool to be sold in the US (just kidding, it's probably some silly federal regulation). We just had to mosey on down to the Volkswagen stand and check out the new GTI Clubsport. You can view all of our shots of the new hatch up top. Related Video:

An inside look at VW's new California R&D center

Less than two months ago, the Volkswagen Group opened a new facility in Oxnard, California (about an hour's drive west of Los Angeles). The $27 million investment, touted as Test Center California (TCC), serves as a research and development lab testing emissions for all brands under Volkswagen's umbrella, including its newest member, Porsche. While still not fully operational, we toured the new 64,000-square-foot building last week and had a first-hand opportunity to see just how much work is involved testing engines and meeting increasingly stringent government emissions standards.
Replacing a similar facility established in 1990 in Westlake Village (about 20-minutes east of the new location), our guide explained how Oxnard was chosen for its temperate climate, varied regional terrain for test drives and low altitude. (The area is only a few feet above sea level - a critical parameter when instrument testing emissions.) The new facility is capable of analyzing hundreds of vehicles, prototypes and customer-owned vehicles, annually.
Most interesting to us was the huge stainless steel climate chamber, with a massive four-wheel dynamometer that allows VW to test running vehicles in both scorching desert and freezing climates without ever leaving the building (an Audi Q7 was running in place during our visit). We were also mesmerized by the countless storage tanks and intricate plumbing of chemicals, stored in both liquid and gas states, needed to perform the variety of tests. Lastly, we took a look at Bugatti's service center on the west coast, located completely within the new center. While there were no supercars on site, the facility is equipped with plenty of spare forged wheels (mounted with expensive Michelin PAX tires) and a Veyron-specific repair jig that allows the vehicle to be completely disassembled, if needed. It is a shame that the facility, which set off all of our automotive geek alerts, is closed to the public.

VW redoes A-ha's 'Take On Me' music video

Volkswagen has been responsible for its fair share of witty, clever commercials. "Tiny Vader" might be the most popular, but somehow, we think this newest spot will find a big audience. VW delivers not so much a cover, but a reimagining, of 1980s Norwegian pop band A-ha's famous music video for "Take On Me."
The original opens with an animated motorcycle race, which is revealed to be part of a comic book. VW's version replaces the motorcycle with a Passat, which strikes us as an oddly sober choice when there are cars like the GTI and Beetle in VW's portfolio. But never mind that - take a look down below for the entire 46-second spot. For reference, we've also included the original music video. And if you aren't a fan of the musical stylings of A-ha, just think, VW's choice of 1980s music could have been much worse.