40 years of dynamic design and safety
Volkswagen is celebrating 40 years, 36 years in South Africa of one of its most successful models of all time, the Golf.
POLOKWANE – Volkswagen is celebrating 40 years, 36 years in South Africa of one of its most successful models of all time, the Golf.
To date, more than 30 million vehicles of the best-seller have been sold worldwide. Over 705 000 units, Citi Golf included, have been sold in South Africa.
Golf I:
The first series production Golf rolled off the assembly line in Wolfsburg on March 29, 1974 and in 1978 in Uitenhage.
A new era had dawned, that of the transversely mounted front engine and front-wheel drive.
The Golf won over the market to such an extent that production of the one-millionth Golf was already being celebrated in October 1976.
In launching the first Golf GTI in 1976, Volkswagen heralded the introduction of greater dynamism in this class.
With the Golf Cabriolet introduced in 1979, Volkswagen launched an open car on the market that was at times the best-selling open car in the world.
Volkswagen South Africa produced 532 588 first generation Golf units between 1978 and 2009 at its manufacturing factory in Uitenhage.
Golf II:
As of August 1983, passengers no longer sat quite so close to each other, since spatial utilisation had been improved.
It was the Golf that introduced the regulated catalytic converter in 1984, anti-lock braking system (ABS) in 1986 and power-steering to the Golf class. Volkswagen South Africa produced 57 013 units of the second generation Golf between1984 and 1992.
Golf III:
With the launch of the third generation Golf in August 1991, Volkswagen heralded a new era of safety.
The Golf III was the first of the series to have front airbags, starting in 1992, while major advances in the area of car body construction also resulted in significantly improved crash safety.
Many new features made their debut in this new Golf, the first six cylinder engine (VR6) and cruise control.
Likewise, ABS became a standard feature in all Golf models in 1996.
Over 38 200 third generation Golf units were produced in Uitenhage between 1992 and 1998.
Golf IV:
The fourth generation Golf was introduced in 1998.
The Golf IV emphasised the clear, precise design that lived up to the history of the Volkswagen brand more than ever before while setting its course to the future.
In 2002, Volkswagen launched the R32 in Europe, with a top speed of 250km/h.
It was this top model of the range that was in 2003 the first to debut with the revolutionary dual-clutch gearbox (DSG).
From 1999 to 2004, Volkswagen South Africa produced 33 516 four generation Golf units for the South African market.
Golf V:
This was the Golf that boasted levels of comfort and dynamic performance that left many a competitor in the dust when launched in 2003.
On order, the Golf was now also available for the first time with side airbags, together with the six standard airbags for front, side front and window, there were thus eight airbags on board.
In terms of comfort, as well as dynamic performance, the Golf V scored in numerous areas, including its new four-link rear suspension, DSG transmission, bi-xenon headlights, panoramic sliding sunroof, plus the world’s first twin charger TSI engine that combined a turbo and a supercharger.
In 2007, the extremely fuel-efficient Golf BlueMotion (4.5 l/100 km) was introduced in Europe.
The fifth generation model was the last Golf to be produced in South Africa. More than 152 000 units were produced between 2004 and 2009 by the Uitenhage factory and 115 250 of these units were exported.
Golf VI:
In just four years, a further 2,85 million Golf units had been produced by the end of July 2012, based on the sixth generation of the car launched in 2008.
The body was so rugged that it passed the EuroNCAP crash test with flying colours, gaining the maximum five stars. Meanwhile, more TSI engines and a transition among the turbodiesel engines (TDI) from unit injection to the common rail system resulted in greater dynamic performance and lower fuel consumption.
A top performer in the latter discipline was the second generation Golf BlueMotion, with a combined fuel consumption of just 3.8 l/100km equivalent to 99g/km CO². New assistance systems such as Park Assist and rear view camera made the sixth generation the most advanced Golf to date.
Golf VII:
In September 2012, Volkswagen celebrated the world premiere of the seventh Golf. The weight of the new Golf was reduced by up to 100kg, thereby reversing the often cited upward weight spiral. Fuel economy was improved by a maximum of 23%, depending on engine selection.
The new Golf TDI BlueMotion consumes only 3,2 l/100km under standard New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) conditions.
In addition, Volkswagen has equipped the current generation Golf with an entire range of new assistance systems on the market, some as options and others as standard.
Early in 2014, Volkswagen electrified the compact class with introduction of the all-electric e-Golf with a range of around 190 kilometres.
The Golf is the most successful model ever built by Volkswagen. Late in 2013 the 30 millionth Golf rolled off the production line at the Wolfsburg plant.
The seventh generation Golf is produced in Wolfsburg (Germany), Zwickau (Germany), Foshan (China) and Puebla (Mexico).
