Did you know the Volkswagen Golf was named after a horse?
If you're like most car geeks, you know that Volkswagen has a thing for winds when it comes to naming cars. Sirocco is a Mediterranean wind, Passat is a trade wind, Jetta refers to the Jet stream, and Golf is what the Germans call the Gulf Stream. But get this — shocking new revelations suggest the Golf was actually named after a horse!
What does VW Golf stand for?
The Volkswagen Golf ( listen (help·info)) is a compact car produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across seven generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – such as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada (Mk1 and Mk5),...
When did the first Volkswagen Golf come out?
In May 1974, Volkswagen presented the first-generation Golf as a modern front-wheel-drive, long-range replacement for the Volkswagen Beetle.
What kind of car is a golf?
The Volkswagen Golf ( listen ) is a compact car produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across seven generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – such as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada (Mk1 and Mk5), and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico (Mk1).
Are all VW named after winds?
Like The Golf, most Volkswagen names are based on winds. It is also a sedan made by VW in the 1970s and 1980s and from 2008. Wind suggests speed, smoothness and silence. The winds chosen for VW names are all subtropical, Mediterranean or desert-based.
What is Passat named after?
Launched in 1973, the Passat was the first modern-era Volkswagen, and took its name from the German word “passatwinde,” or trade winds. Another in the Greek mythology series, Phaeton was a god who almost lost control of the chariot that pulled the sun across the sky.
Is there a car named Golf?
The original Golf Mk1 was a front-engined, front-wheel drive replacement for the air-cooled, rear-engined, rear-wheel drive Volkswagen Beetle. 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.
Why is a Golf called a 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.
What does Tiguan mean in German?
tigerThe Volkswagen Tiguan name is a combination of the German words for “tiger” (Tiger) and “iguana” (Leguan).
Why is Volkswagen called Polo?
Many of Volkswagen's most famous models are named after winds. The Golf refers to the Gulf Stream, Jetta is German for "jet stream," Passat means "trade wind," the Scirocco is named after Sirocco, a Mediterranean wind, and the Polo references polar winds.
What does GTI stand for?
Grand Touring InjectionGTI stands for Grand Touring Injection. Volkswagen uses for its direct fuel injection system. Over 40 years ago, GTI technology was first deployed in the 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI. GTI was meant to power long-distance journeys without sacrificing performance by using a new direct fuel injection system.
What does Passat mean in German?
trade windnoun. trade wind [noun] a wind that blows towards the equator (from the north-east and south-east)
What does TSI stand for?
turbocharged stratified injectionDrivers may be aware that their TSI engine is a gas Volkswagen engine, but they may not know how this engine offers advantages over other gas engines. TSI stands for “turbocharged stratified injection” and was inspired by the Volkswagen TDI Clean Diesel and FSI direct fuel injection engines.
What does R stand for Golf?
RacingThe R in Golf R stands for Racing.
Why are GTI called Rabbit?
The Rabbit name stems back to the first-gen Golf, which was marketed in the U.S. as the Rabbit from 1975 to 1984. The name was revived in the U.S. in 2006 as the moniker for the fifth-gen Golf, during which time the GTI was treated as a separate model.
Why did Volkswagen stop making the Rabbit?
The Golf was a tiny vehicle with maximum fuel-efficiency, and at the time it was also one of the fastest vehicles available in its class. The Rabbit name lived on for about 10 years, and then Volkswagen decided it was time to give it the same name here that it had everywhere else.
What does VW name their SUVs?
All of VW's SUVs have names that start with the letter T, and VW also uses Latin words and derivatives for some of its cars. The new Arteon, for example, is a variation on the Latin word for art, artem. But, check out Carfection's video for even more VW naming trivia. Also in the course of researching for this story, ...
Did VW sell the Golf as the Rabbit?
So in the mid-1970s, its early water-cooled days, VW was fond of winds. It didn't stick with that theme all too long. In the US, it sold the Golf as the Rabbit for a number of years, and it also had the Fox, which was based on the Brazilian-market Gol.
Why Did VW Bring Back The Rabbit Name For The 5th Generation Golf?
As mentioned earlier in this article, VW dropped the Rabbit name for the launch of the second generation Golf in 1984.
What Is The Difference Between The VW Golf & Rabbit?
Beyond the badge/name – and any other ‘market localisations’ e.g. putting the steering wheel on the correct side of the car or having lights that comply with requirements – there is no difference, at least from an underlying mechanical perspective.
Conclusion
To recap, the VW Golf was originally called ‘Rabbit’ in America because Volkswagen believed that the association with the sport of golf might hamper sales of the car (even though we know the car isn’t named after the sport – as per this recent article we released).
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.
Where was the Volkswagen Golf 2 made?
Series production of the second Golf begins at the Wolfsburg plant in June 1983.
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).
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 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?
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.
Overview
Awards and recognition
• The Golf Mk3 won the 1992 European Car of the Year award.
• In April 2010 Kelley Blue Book included the VW Golf TDI (clean diesel) among its Top 10 Green Cars for 2010.
• The Golf Mk7 was named "The All The Car You'll Ever Need Car of the Year 2012" by Top Gear (magazine).
First generation (Mk1/A1, Typ 17; 1974)
In May 1974, Volkswagen presented the first-generation Golf as a modern front-wheel-drive, long-range replacement for the Volkswagen Beetle. Later Golf variations included the Golf GTI (introduced in June 1976 with a fuel-injected 1.6-litre engine capable of 180 km/h (110 mph)), a diesel-powered version (from September 1976), the Jetta notchback saloon version (from October 1979), the …
Second generation (Mk2/A2, Typ 19E/1G; 1983)
September 1983 saw the introduction of the second-generation Golf (Mk2) that grew slightly in terms of wheelbase, exterior and interior dimensions, while retaining, in a more rounded form, the Mk1's overall look. Although it was available on the home market and indeed most other left-hand drive markets by the end of 1983, it was not launched in the UK until March 1984.
Third generation (Mk3/A3, Typ 1H/1E/1V; 1991)
The third-generation Golf (Mk3) made its home-market debut in August 1991 and again grew slightly in comparison with its immediate predecessor, while its wheelbase remained unchanged.
New engines included the first Turbocharged Direct Injection (TD) diesel engine in a Golf, and a narrow-angle 2.8-litre VR6 engine. US Environmental Protection A…
Fourth generation (Mk4/A4, Typ 1J; 1997)
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. There was no Mk4-derived Cabriolet, although the Mk3 Cabriolet received a facelift in late 1999 that consisted of bumpers, grill and headlights similar to those of the Mark IV models.
Fifth generation (Mk5/A5, Typ 1K; 2003)
The Golf Mk5 was introduced in Europe in the autumn of 2003, reaching the UK market in early 2004. In North America, Volkswagen brought back the Rabbit nameplate when it introduced the vehicle in 2006. In Canada, the Golf is still the prevalent nameplate of the fifth generation (though both Rabbit and Golf have both been used historically). The North American base model is powered by a …
Sixth generation (Mk6/A6, Typ 5K; 2008)
Volkswagen based the Golf Mk6 on the existing PQ35 platform from the Golf Mk5. 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. Following criticism of the downgraded interior trim qualit…