Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various names such as the Volkswagen Rabbit MK1 AND MK5(only in Canada and the United Sates) and the Volkswagen Caribe MK1(Mexico)
The front wheel drive Golf was the first replacement for the air-cooled VW Beetle. It’s Volkswagen's best-selling model and the world's third best-selling model, with more than 25 million built by 2007.
Production of the Golf was initially in the 3-door hatchback style. Other variants include a 5-door hatchback, wagon (Variant, from 1993), convertible (Cabriolet and Cabrio, 1979–2002), and a Golf-derived notchback saloon/sedan, variously called Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Vento or Volkswagen Bora (from 1979). The cars have filled many market segments, from basic personal cars, to high-performance hot hatches.
The Golf name is derived from the German word for Gulf Stream. It was named during the period in its history when VW named vehicles after prominent winds, including the Passat (after the German word for Trade wind), Jetta (after the Jet stream), Bora (after Bora) and Scirocco (after Sirocco). "Golf" is also a sport, a theme that is shared with the Volkswagen Polo.
Golf/ Rabbit Mk1(A1/Typ 17) (1974–1984)May 1974, Volkswagen presented the first-generation Golf as a modern front-wheel-drive, replacement for the VW Beetle.
Later Golf variations included;
• Golf GTI "hot hatch" (June 1976)
• Diesel-powered version (September 1976)
• Jetta notchback saloon version (October 1979)
• Golf Cabriolet (January, 1980)
• Golf-based pickup, VW Caddy
• Golf Mk1 was sold as the Rabbit in the U.S and Canada
• And the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico.
• A face-lifted version of the Golf Mk1 was produced in South Africa as the Citi Golf from 1984 to 2009.
Golf Mk2 (A2/Typ 19E) (1983–1992) September 1983 VW introduced the second-generation Mk2 that grew in terms of wheelbase, exterior and interior dimensions while staying in a more rounded form, the Mk1's overall look.
In 1985, the first Golf with four-wheel-drive (Golf Country) went on sale with the same Syncro four-wheel drive system being employed on the supercharged G60 models, exclusively released in 1989 with 160 BHP (120 kW) and ABS braking.
A Mk2-based second generation Jetta was unveiled in January 1984. There was no Mk2-based Cabriolet model; instead, the Mk1 Cabriolet was continued over the Mk2's entire production run.
Golf Mk3 (A3/Typ 1H) (1991–1999) The third-generation Golf Mk3 made its market début 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 (TDI) diesel engine in a Golf, and a narrow-angle 2.8 L VR6 engine.
For the first time ever, the Golf estate (Golf Variant/Golf Wagon) joined the line-up in September 1993 (although markets didn’t receive this model until early 1994), at the same time a completely new Mk3 Cabriolet was introduced, replacing the 13-year-old Mk1-based version.
With a similar body style to the Golf, it was continued until 2001 with only minor changes in 1999. The notchback version, called VW Vento (or Jetta III in North America), was presented in January 1992.
Golf Mk4 (A4/Typ 1J) (1997–2006) The Golf Mk4 was introduced in August 1997, followed by a notchback version (VW Bora or, in North America, VW Jetta) in August 1998 and a new Golf Variant (Wagon) in March 1999.
There was no Mk4 Cabriolet, although the Mk3 Cabriolet received a facelift in late 1999 that comprised bumpers, grill and headlights similar to those of the MK 4 models. New high-performance models introduced in 2004 was the 3.2 L VR6 engined four-wheel drive Golf R32 .
A 2.8 L four-wheel drive Golf VR6 4Motion version available succeeding the Mk3 VR6 which only had front-wheel drive, as well as the famous 1.8T (turbo) 4-cylinder used in various Volkswagen Group models.
As of 2008, certain versions of the Golf/Bora Mk4 were still in production in Brazil, China, and Mexico. Revised versions of the Mk4 are currently on sale in Canada marketed as the City Golf and City Jetta in 2009. They received a significant re-moldeling for the 2008 model year, including revised headlamps, taillamps, front and rear fascias, sound systems, and wheels. The production of Golf Mk4 for the U.S. market ended in 2006. But in the European markets, the production ended in 2003.
Because of the MK4's popularity and low cost, it is still in production in several countries, such as Brazil and Argentina.
Golf Mk5 (A5/Typ 1K) (2003–2009) In Germany, the VW Golf Mk4 was succeeded by the Golf Mk5 in 2003. This model did not reach the North American markets until model year 2006, where it was the Rabbit. The GTI version is powered by a turbocharged version of the 2.0 FSI engine, producing 200PS.
Volkswagen also introduced the "Fast" marketing ploy for the North American market, dedicated to the "fast" that lives inside every driver. Drivers who purchase new GTI Mk5s from a dealership are shipped a model of said Fast, which employs GTI-like features.
The sedan(saloon) version, again called Volkswagen Jetta in most markets and assembled in Germany, South Africa, as well as Mexico (In Mexico it is named Bora, in Europe again named Jetta) followed in 2004, a new Golf Variant (wagon) in 2006. The Jetta however, is not the only variant, as the notchback version of the GTI can also be had in the GLI version. The front ends of the car are the same, with the only difference being that the GLI is a sedan, while the GTI is a "hot hatch".
The Volkswagen Golf Plus model was also introduced in 2004. This was a slightly larger version of the Golf Mk5 with a higher roofline.
Golf Mk6 (A6/Typ 5K) (2009–present)Volkswagen based the latest Golf Mk6 on the existing PQ35 platform from the Golf Mk5.
The design is more aerodynamic, helping fuel efficiency, and is quieter than its predecessor. Volkswagen opted to overhaul the interior to match the quality with the Mk4 Golf, while maintaining the same user friendliness from the Mk5. The car is also cheaper to build than its predecessor; and will be able to pass these savings on to the customer.
The Mk6 Golf was introduced for sale in the UK in January 2009. The car was introduced in North America in October 2009 as the 2010 Golf, rather than Rabbit. The Mk6 Golf also reintroduces the North American market to an available diesel engine in the Golf.
In April 2010 Kelley Blue Book included the VW Golf TDI (clean diesel) among its Top 10 Green Cars for 2010.
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