What is the history of the Volkswagen Golf?
In March 1974, the first Golf rolled off the assembly line in Wolfsburg. The advertising starts with the slogan: “The new popular sport: Golf” – a vision that was to come true. The first generation makes its mark: the Beetle's successor is sold 6.99 million times. Yes, there is a successor!
When did the VW Golf Mk1 come out?
The Golf Mk1 received VW model designation Type 17. Production started in March 1974, and sales officially began in May 1974. By this time Giugiaro's rectangular headlamps and wide tail-lamps had given way to round headlamps and much narrower rear lamps.
What happened to the Volkswagen Golf?
Still, we're mourning the loss of the hum-drum, basic Golf iteration. The seventh-generation car got a heart transplant in 2019, adopting the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic from the Jetta.
What is the MK9 Volkswagen Golf?
The world premiere of the Mk9 happened in Wolfsburg in October 2019. Top Gear gave the latest Golf was given an impressive eight out of 10, which branded it 'a finely polished machine’. Reviewers found it had better steering, better refinement, better safety, and more modern lighting than previous incarnations.
When did the Golf 4 come out?
1997Golf IV, manufactured between 1997 - 2003. In total, the fourth generation of the Golf, including all derivatives, was sold over 4.99 million times. Continuity leads to success.
What year is Mark 6 Golf?
Volkswagen Golf Mk6Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (5K)ManufacturerVolkswagenAlso calledVolkswagen Jetta SportWagen (United States, wagon) Volkswagen Vento Variant (Argentina and Uruguay, wagon)Production2008–2013 2009–2013 (wagon) 2011–2016 (cabriolet)Model years2010–2014 (North America)22 more rows
What years are Mk7 Golf?
2015 - 2021 Volkswagen Golf (Mk7 7th Generation) The Golf Mk7 was introduced for 2015 in the US with a significantly expanded lineup and more equipment as it cemented its place in the VW lineup as a premium compact car.
What Mark is a 2008 Golf?
The Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (codenamed Typ 1K) is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen, as the fifth generation of the Golf in three- or five-door hatchback (August 2003–2008) and a five-door station wagon (2007–2009) configurations, as well as the successor to the Golf Mk4.
What Mark is a Golf 2012?
Mk6The Mk6 model (2009-2012) comes as a three or five-door hatchback, an estate, a raised-roof semi-MPV Golf Plus, and a soft-top cabriolet (launched 2011).
What Mark is a 2013 Golf?
Volkswagen Golf MK 7 (2013 - 2016) used car review.
What's the difference between Mk7 and Mk7 5 golf?
The seventh generation of Europe's best-selling car has been around since 2014, though, so VW has now given it a thorough mid-life overhaul. Ostensibly called the 'Mk7. 5', the new car gets tweaks to its styling, with a revised front bumper and the option of LED headlights, plus LED tail-lights on all editions.
What year did the Golf Mk7 5 start?
It was introduced in Berlin on 4 September 2012, before a public launch at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and marketed for the 2013 model year in hatchback, van, and station wagon (known as the Golf Variant) forms. Cars reached Volkswagen dealers in the Golf's European domestic market on 10 November 2012.
What mk is 2015 golf?
Golf MK 7Volkswagen Golf MK 7 (2013 - 2016)
Which year VW Golf is best?
Model years 2013 and 2014 proved to be a bit more reliable, yet there were still numerous reports of 2014 VW GTI reliability problems. In fact, the GTI has had 3 generations, generation 6 (2009-2014) being the least reliable. The stories of VW Golf GTI Mk6 problems were widespread.
Is the 2008 Golf a good car?
The Volkswagen Golf (2004 – 2008) model is well built, reliable and one of the most durable cars in the segment.
What mk is a Golf 2006?
Volkswagen Mk 5 Golf TDI (2006)
Who designed the Volkswagen Golf?
Volkswagen Chief Designer Klaus Bischoff: “The step from the Beetle to the Golf was revolutionary. With the switch from the air-cooled rear engine to the water-cooled front engine, a completely new vehicle layout was created at the time.”. Round became angular – a paradigm shift.
When did the Golf become the best selling car in Germany?
In 2003, the Golf marks the milestone of becoming the best-selling car from Germany for almost three decades. It is regarded as “das Auto” par excellence, as the only vehicle in the compact class with a classless status. And the fifth Golf?
How many Golf 7s were made?
Golf VII, built from 2012 to 2019: At the end of his career, around six million Golf VII will have been produced. Something’s different – but it looks damn good! The seventh Golf generation, launched in 2012, is the first Volkswagen model series based on the modular transverse kit (MQB).
Where was the Volkswagen Golf 2 made?
Series production of the second Golf begins at the Wolfsburg plant in June 1983.
When was the Golf VI built?
Golf VI, built between 2008 and 2012: 2.85 million of the sixth generation Golf will be sold. The Golf VI marks the beginning of a quiet revolution: with its premiere, safety technologies from the luxury class – and thus also a touch of luxury – are moving into the compact vehicle segment.
When was the golf class invented?
Since its introduction in 1974, it has been regarded as the proverbial precursor of the compact class, which was soon coined the “Golf Class”. Since then, everyone else has had to compete with the Golf. And not just locally but, globally, because the Golf is a worldwide bestseller. Consumption label.
Is the Golf III aerodynamic?
Yes, it looks different – and it is still immediately recognizable as a Golf: The Golf III was the first with a wedge form that was as dynamic as it was aerodynamic (drag coefficient value: 0.30). It has a powerful presence on the road thanks to its much wider track, and even in the lower powered versions the wheels are flush with the body, unlike its predecessor.
Who designed the Mk6 Golf?
This vehicle was debuted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The Mk6 Golf was designed by Volkswagen's chief designer Walter de'Silva. The design is said to be more aerodynamic, helping fuel efficiency, and is quieter than its predecessor.
When did Volkswagen launch the e-Golf?
On 14 February 2014, Volkswagen launched sales of the e-Golf in Germany, with pricing starting at €34,900 (~ US$47,800 ). On 11 March 2014, Volkswagen opened ordering for the e-Golf in the UK, and announced pricing of GB£30,845. UK deliveries began at the end of June.
How many miles does a 2015 Volkswagen E golf drive?
The production version of the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. According to VW the e-Golf has a practical all-electric range of 130 to 190 km (81 to 118 mi), with an official NEDC cycle of 190 km (120 mi), and the winter range is expected to be 80 to 120 km (50 to 75 mi). The 2015 e-Golf has an official EPA rated all-electric range of 134 km (83 mi), and a combined fuel economy of 116 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) for an energy consumption of 29 kW-hrs/100 mi. The EPA rating for city driving is 126 MPGe and 105 MPGe in highway. Production of vehicles destined for retail customers began in March 2014.
How many golfs were built in 2013?
Historically, the Golf is Volkswagen's best-selling model and is among the world's top three best-selling models, with more than thirty million built as of June 2013. Initially, most Golfs were 3-door hatchbacks.
How fast is a Golf GTE?
The Golf GTE has a top speed of 217 km/h (135 mp h) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 7.6 seconds. The vehicle can be recharged from a Type 2 charging point in approximately 2 hours, or from a standard 230 V wall outlet in approximately 4 hours.
Where is the GTI made?
The GTI version is the only version on sale in Mexico. The saloon/sedan version, again widely marketed Volkswagen as the Jetta, is assembled in Germany, South Africa, as well as Mexico. It is marketed in certain markets, including European markets and Mexico as Bora. It was followed in 2007 by a new Golf Variant.
When was the Mk4 introduced?
Main article: Volkswagen Golf Mk4. The Golf Mk4 was first introduced in August 1997, followed by a notchback version (VW Bora or, in North America, again VW Jetta) in August 1998 and a new Golf Variant (estate) in March 1999.
What is a Volkswagen Golf Mk1?
The Volkswagen Golf Mk1 is the first generation of a small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen.
What was the Mk1 Golf used for?
The Mk1 Golf was used in the former SFR Yugoslavia as a police car , especially in SR Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here is an example seen in Mostar in 1985. The car's engine was mounted transversely in the front, and drove the front wheels. Engines from two Audi engine families were offered.
What year was the Golf GTI Mk1?
Golf GTI Mk1. Golf GTI Mk1. Due to the negative political reaction to the 1973 release of the Beetle "Gelb-Schwarzer Renner" ("GSR", or "Yellow-Black Racer"), Volkswagen had little inclination to develop a faster Golf.
When was the Jetta 2 door?
Main article: Volkswagen Jetta (A1) VW Jetta Mk1 2-door (1979–1984) In August 1979 a sedan version of the Golf called the Jetta was introduced. Essentially a Golf Mk1 with a trunk grafted on, this three-box sedan body style was offered in two- and four-door versions and was targeted at more conservative buyers.
When was the Volkswagen EA235 prototype made?
Eventually it was rejected as a Beetle replacement, but served as the foundation of the subsequent 411 model. Volkswagen EA235 prototype (1967) In 1967 another set of prototypes for possible Beetle replacements appeared in the form of the EA235 and EA235a.
Where was the VW Caddy made?
An almost identical version for Europe called the VW Caddy went into production in 1983 at the Tvornica Automobila Sarajevo (TAS) plant in Vogošća near Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Approximately 200,000 units were produced at this location until the factory was destroyed in 1992 during the Bosnian War.
When was the Volkswagen Golf convertible made?
A convertible version of the Golf was presented to Volkswagen's management by coachbuilder Wilhelm Karmann GmbH as early as 1976. This early prototype lacked the roll-over bar of the later version, and had a flat body line in the rear, where the soft top folded down below the sill level.
How long has the Volkswagen Golf been around?
It’s hard to believe the Volkswagen Golf has been around for almost half a century. The little car made its debut in 1974 as the successor to the hugely popular Beetle. More than 35 million have since been made, and it's consistently in the top 10 best sellers - beaten only by the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Fiesta.
How many MK1 golfs were made in 1976?
By October 1976, a million Golfs had been made. Variations also appeared during this period. The first Golf GTi arrived in 1976 and the Golf Cabriolet three years later. The total number of Mk1 Golfs produced hit a staggering 6.99 million!
How many generations of Volkswagen Golf are there?
Volkswagen Golf Generations. Few manufacturers get the chance to create eight generations of a model – but that’s exactly what Volkswagen has achieved with the Golf. There’s also been a Golf to suit virtually everyone’s needs. From families looking to transport children and belongings, to younger drivers wanting an eye-catching convertible.
What was the first six cylinder engine?
Improvements to the car body construction also improved crash safety. The first six-cylinder engine (VR6) also appeared, along with a new convertible and the first Golf Variant, which was an estate. The third incarnation also sported an increasingly aerodynamic shape, while still retaining the ‘wedge’ look.
When was the Mk7 released?
Mk7 – 2012 to 2019. Another version of the Golf – and another award. The Mk7 was unveiled to an enthusiastic audience at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012. It was lighter, boasted an improved fuel economy, and came with a variety of standard – and optional – assistance systems.
When did the Mk9 come out?
The world premiere of the Mk9 happened in Wolfsburg in October 2019. Top Gear gave the latest Golf was given an impressive eight out of 10, which branded it 'a finely polished machine’. Reviewers found it had better steering, better refinement, better safety, and more modern lighting than previous incarnations.
When did the second generation golf come out?
The second generation Golf arrived as the glitzy 1980s were underway. It was bigger than its predecessor and more aerodynamic. Production started at Wolfsburg in June 1983 - the same month that Rowan Atkinson’s Blackadder was shown in the UK for the first time.
What is a MK1 golf?
The MK1 Golf was a water-cooled, front-engined, front-wheel drive hatchback that set standards of design still used today, more than 40 years later. The Mark 1 Golf/Rabbit was created using many parts recently acquired with Auto Union, and used in the new Audis. These in turn came from development work Mercedes had done in adapting ...
Where did the name "Golf" come from?
According to some, the name ‘Golf’ comes from the German ‘Golfstrom’, or gulf stream, which fits with VW's use of ‘Scirocco’, the hot Mediterranean wind, and 'Jetta', German for jet stream.
How fast is a Mark 1 GTI?
With a curb weight of just 1780 lbs, this was enough to give the Mark 1 GTI a top speed of 110 mph and a 0-60 time of 9 seconds – equal to a Corvette, Datsun 280ZX, or Mazda RX-7 in the early 1980s.
Why is the Mark 1 Golf called the Rabbit?
In the US, however, the Mark 1 Golf was called the Rabbit, because it was meant to be small and nimble, and 'Golf" sounded too upscale for an economy car aimed at young buyers. Years later, they would also introduce the VW Fox, carrying on that theme. The Rabbit stayed on the US market from 1974 to 1983, when it was finally replaced by ...
How many Mark 1s were sold in 2009?
By the end of production in South Africa in 2009, well over 6 million Mark 1’s had been sold, in hatchback, pickup, and cabriolet body styles. Much like the original Beetle, the Golf/Rabbit was intended as a practical small family car and the engine choice reflected this.
When did VW make the rabbit pickup?
Because small pickup trucks from Toyota and Datsun were selling so well in America, the VW USA factory developed a extended wheelbase Rabbit Pickup in 1979, by cutting off the roof in the back and fitting a solid rear axle with leaf springs.
Is VW Golf bigger than Mark 1?
The VW Golf range has come a long way since the original Mark 1 – it’s certainly got a lot bigger – but the changes have been mostly evolutionary rather than revolutionary. The Golf Mark 1, however, was a genuine revolution. Tags: Infographics. cutaways.
When was Volkswagen founded?
Volkswagen is founded. On May 28, 1937, the government of Germany–then under the control of Adolf Hitler of the National Socialist ( Nazi) Party–forms a new state-owned automobile company, then known as Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH.
When did VW start selling the new beetle?
VW bounced back with the introduction of sportier models such as the Rabbit and later, the Golf. In 1998, the company began selling the highly touted “New Beetle” while still continuing production of its predecessor.
When did Volkswagen become a state owned company?
On May 28, 1937 , the government of Germany–then under the control of Adolf Hitler of the National Socialist ( Nazi) Party–forms a new state-owned automobile company, then known as Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH. Later that year, it was renamed simply Volkswagenwerk, or “The People’s Car Company.”
Where is Volkswagen headquartered?
Originally operated by the German Labor Front, a Nazi organization, Volkswagen was headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Who was the engineer that made the People's Car?
To provide the design for this “people’s car,” Hitler called in the Austrian automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche. In 1938, at a Nazi rally, the Fuhrer declared: “It is for the broad masses that this car has been built.
When will Volkswagen end production?
Volkswagen ends Golf Production for the U.S. market. By Wesley Wren. Jan 22, 2021. Volkswagen. Volkwagen announces its compact Golf hatchback will leave the U.S. after 40 years in the market. Golf production at the Puebla, Mexico, factory is slated to come to an end this month.
Will VW make a golf in 2021?
After over 40 years in American showrooms, the writing is on the wall for the Volkswagen Golf. VW says it has officially stopped producing a Golf for the U.S. market.
When did golf come to America?
Inexpensive, too, at least in the base models. The Golf first came to America in late 1974 as the 1975 Rabbit, landing on our shores just as gas prices were skyrocketing.
Where is the Volkswagen Golf 2021?
The Volkswagen Golf hatchback's nearly-fifty-year run in the U.S. has come to an end. The Puebla, Mexico plant cranked out its last North American-bound 2021 Volkswagen Golf last week, and once the supply dries up, that's it.
How many Golfs will be sold in 2020?
In 2020, Volkswagen sold fewer than 22,000 Golfs. For comparison, Honda sold that many Civics each month last year. The good news is that the new eighth-generation Golf GTI and Golf R are still due to arrive later this year as 2022 models.
Where is the 2022 GTI built?
While previous-gen Golfs all came from Mexico, the 2022 GTI and R will be built in Wolfsburg, Germany. So that's good news.
Is the Golf 7th generation a manual or automatic?
The seventh-generation car got a heart transplant in 2019, adopting the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic from the Jetta. (A six-speed manual transmission remained standard!)
History
- Replacing the Beetle; early efforts
Volkswagen began producing prototypes of possible Beetle replacements as far back as the early 1950s, and may have received design proposals from Porsche earlier than that. All of the internal projects' names started with "EA", standing for "Entwicklungsauftrag" and meaning "Developmen… - Corporate changes and later prototypes
Kurt Lotz succeeded Nordhoff as Director General of Volkswagen from 1968 to 1971. Work to broaden the product line and find a replacement for the Beetle accelerated. Under Lotz Volkswagen acquired control of NSU in 1969. NSU was subsequently merged into the Auto Unio…
Model History
- In 1969 Lotz and Italian Volkswagen importer Gerhard R. Gumpert visited the Turin Auto Show. After selecting their six favourite cars of the show, they discovered that four of the six were designed by Giorgetto Giugiaroand his Italdesign studio. Giugiaro was invited to Wolfsburg in January 1970 to work on development project EA337. The first thing he saw when he arrived at …
Features
- The Golf adopted an efficient "two-box" layout with a steep hatchbackrather than a formal trunk. The chassis was a steel unibody. The car's engine was mounted transversely in the front, and drove the front wheels. Engines from two Audi engine families were offered. Both were water cooled inline four cylinder four-stroke engines. Both also had two valves per cylinder operated b…
Mk1 Derivative Models
- Golf GTI
Due to the negative political reaction to the 1973 release of the Beetle "Gelb-Schwarzer Renner" ("GSR", or "Yellow-Black Racer"), Volkswagen had little inclination to develop a faster Golf. VW Press Department head Anton Konrad and VW engineer Alfons Löwenberg began development … - Golf Diesel
A Golf powered by a normally aspirated diesel engine first appeared in September 1976. Equipping a compact car with a heavier, noisier and less powerful diesel engine was unusual in Germany at the time, with Peugeot among the few competitors offering a comparable model. Th…
Regional Variations
- Volkswagen Caribe
In May 1977, the Mk1 Golf was launched in Mexico as the Volkswagen Caribe. It came standard with a 4-speed manual transaxle and a 1.6 litre 66 hp (49 kW) carbureted engine. The car was an instant success. At first only the 5-door body was offered, but in 1978, the lineup expanded with … - Volkswagen Rabbit/Golf
The Golf Mk1 was first introduced to the United States in 1975, but in that market the car was called the Volkswagen Rabbit.These early US Rabbits were produced in Germany and exported to North America. In 1978 Volkswagen began building the Rabbit at its Westmoreland plant. Forme…
Experimental Versions and Specials
- Volkswagen
Volkswagen used the Golf Mk1 as the basis of several experimental cars of their own. These included: 1. ESVW II (1974). This was an experimental safety vehicle that included passive belts and airbags. 1. Elektro Golf 1 (1976). An electrically powered prototype built by the factory. It wa… - Artz/Nordstadt
Günter Artz was director of the Hannover Volkswagen dealer Autohaus Nordstadt. Artz and Nordstadt produced several specials that were either based on or had the appearance of the Golf Mk1 or its derivative models. 1. The Nordstadt Golf by Artz, also known as the Super Rabbit, wa…
Motorsports
- In the late 1970s, the Mk1 Golf GTI was campaigned in a variety of international rallying events, taking wins at Sweden (1978, 1982, 1983), Monte Carlo (1980), Great Britain (1983), and Portugal (1984).: 41 In 1981, drivers Alfons Stock and Paul Schmuck won the German Rally Championship in a Golf GTI Mk1.The bright green Golf, sponsored by Rheila, was nicknamed the "Rheila Frosch…
See Also
Further Reading
- Sloniger, Jerry (1980). The VW Story. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens. ISBN 0-85059-441-3.
- Blunsden, John (1 February 1993). VW Golf and Derivatives Including Convertible, Jetta, Scirocco and Corrado: A Collectors Guide. Motorbooks International.
- Ruppert, James (1 December 1996). VW Golf: With Scirocco, Corrado and Karmann Convertible Derivatives. Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1852239961.
- Sloniger, Jerry (1980). The VW Story. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens. ISBN 0-85059-441-3.
- Blunsden, John (1 February 1993). VW Golf and Derivatives Including Convertible, Jetta, Scirocco and Corrado: A Collectors Guide. Motorbooks International.
- Ruppert, James (1 December 1996). VW Golf: With Scirocco, Corrado and Karmann Convertible Derivatives. Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1852239961.
- Clemens, Kevin (19 April 2006). Thirty Years of the Volkswagen Golf & Rabbit. Enthusiast Books. ISBN 978-1583881583.
External Links
- "The Golf". 2008.
- Volkswagen Golf at Curlie
Volkswagen Golf Generations
Golf Mk1 – 1974 to 1983
Golf Mk2 – 1983 to 1991
Golf Mk3 – 1991 to 1997
Golf Mk4 – 1997 to 2003
Golf Mk5 – 2003 to 2008
Golf Mk6 – 2008 to 2012
Golf Mk7 – 2012 to 2019
Golf MK8 – 2019 to Present
VW Golf Electric and Hybrid Versions
- Believe it or not, Volkswagen has been creating electric cars since the 1970s, but the first electric VW Golf didn't appear until 1981. The company also developed a Mk1 hybrid car in 1983. These were still concept cars, however. The first production electric car from Volkswagen was the Golf III CitySTROMer, which was available between 1992 and 1996...