Wikipedia:
Volkswagen Golf |
| Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group Karmann (For Convertibles) |
| Production | 1974–present |
| Class | Small family car Subcompact (1974-1984) Compact (1985-present) |
The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. The front-wheel drive Golf was Volkswagen's first successful replacement for the air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle. Historically, it is Volkswagen's best-selling model and the world's third best-selling model, with more than 25 million built by 2007. [1]
Most production of the Golf has been in the 3-door hatchback style. Other variants include a 5-door hatchback, station wagon (estate / Variant), convertible (Cabrio), and a 4-door Volkswagen Jetta saloon (sedan). A touring (wagon) version of the Jetta has also been available. They have filled many market segments from basic personal cars to high-performance hot hatches.
The Golf's success popularised the use of the hatchback in the C segment of cars and began the entire Golf class. See also Volkswagen A platform.
History
Like its predecessor the Volkswagen Beetle, the Golf has proved to be influential. In continuous production since 1974, the Golf was one of the first widely successful front wheel drive hatchbacks. In the USA, the Rabbit would spark another generation of VW-alike American compacts, such as the Omni, Escort and Cavalier in the 1980s, just as the Beetle inspired Falcon and Corvair in 1960s and subcompact Vega and Pinto in the 1970s. The Golf's performance also defined the hot hatch before youth started tuning their imports.
Replacing the Beetle was a vital goal for Volkswagen's continued survival. By the early 1970s, the company had fallen into financial woe. The novelty of the Beetle had worn thin. Sales were in terminal decline. The front-engine, rear drive small cars like the Toyota Corolla were refined enough to woo customers away from Volkswagen's noisy underpowered engines and dated styling. The Type 3 and Type 4 fastback and squareback failed to attract much interest, whilst the NSU-developed K70 was a failure.
The solution arrived with Auto Union. They had attracted a small following with their technologically advanced Audi front wheel drive medium sedans. Volkswagen had acquired the Ingolstadt-based company in 1964 from Daimler-Benz. Audi's expertise in water-cooled engines and front-wheel drive would be essential in developing a new generation of Volkswagens. FWD offered more performance with lighter weight and more room in a smaller package. The Audi technology in the Golf would regain for Volkswagen the engineering lead over rear drive cars that Ferdinand Porsche had bestowed on the original Beetle over its large conventional peers. The small Golf had to succeed in replacing the high volume Volkswagen sedan. The upmarket Dasher/Passat would be VW's first front wheel drive car, and it was relatively well received for its lower volume market. The Golf would adopt an efficient "two-box" layout with a steep hatch rather than a formal trunk, which would be later added in the Jetta. The water-cooled engine would be mounted transversely in the front. Work on the Golf began in 1969, shortly after Kurt Lotz became head of Volkswagen.
Mark 1
| Mark 1 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Also called | Volkswagen Rabbit Volkswagen Caribe Volkswagen CitiGolf Volkswagen Cabriolet Volkswagen Caddy |
| Production | 1974–1984 1974-present (South Africa) |
| Assembly | Wolfsburg, Germany New Stanton, Pennsylvania Uitenhage, South Africa Puebla, Puebla, Mexico |
| Body style(s) | 2-door convertible 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 2-door pickup truck |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen A1 platform |
| Engine(s) | 1.1L hp (45 kW) I4 1.3L hp (41 kW) I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 3-speed automatic 4-speed/5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 2400 mm (94.5 in) |
| Length | Cabrio: 3432 mm (135.1 in) |
| Width | Cabrio: 1641 mm (64.6 in) |
| Height | Cabrio: 1412 mm (55.6 in) |
| Curb weight | 1984 Diesel Mark 1: 830 kg (1829.8 lb) |
| Related | Volkswagen Jetta Volkswagen Caddy Volkswagen Scirocco |
The first Golf (VW internal designation Typ 17) began production in 1974, although it was marketed in the United States and Canada from 1975 to 1984 as the Volkswagen Rabbit and in Latin America as the Volkswagen Caribe. It featured the water-cooled, front wheel drive design with the addition of a hatchback. The Golf was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1975. The name is short for Golf-Strom, German for Gulf Stream; it was named for that oceanic current to reflect its international character. [citation needed]
The Golf was designed by Italian automobile architect / designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, of the ItalDesign design studio.
In 1978, Volkswagen began producing the North American "Rabbit" version of the Mark 1 Golf in New Stanton, Pennsylvania, thus becoming the first European car manufacturer in modern times to produce a vehicle in the United States. (The plant was called Westmoreland because New Stanton was in Pennsylvania's Westmoreland County.) Former Chevrolet executive James McLernon was chosen to run the factory, which was built to lower the cost of the Rabbit in North America by producing it locally. Unfortunately, McLernon tried to "Americanise" the Golf/Rabbit by softening the suspension and using cheaper materials for the interior. VW purists in America and company executives in Germany were displeased, and for the 1983 model year the Pennsylvania plant went back to using stiffer shocks and suspension with higher-quality interior trim. The plant also began producing the GTI for the North American market. ('Rabbits' were built in Pennsylvania until 1984.) The first VW Caddy pick-up, based on the Mark 1 Golf, was also created at the Pennsylvania plant.
The GTI version, launched in Europe in 1976 and in the U.S. in 1983, virtually created the hot hatch genre overnight, and many other manufacturers since have created special sports models of their regular volume-selling small hatchbacks. The idea behind was rather straightforward - take a basic-transportation economy car and give it a high-performance package, making it practical and sporty. It was one of the first small cars to adopt mechanical fuel injection for its sports version, which raised power output of the 1588 cc engine to 110 PS (81 kW/108 hp). In 2004, Sports Car International declared the Golf GTI Mark 1 to be the 3rd best car of the 1980s.
There was a minor facelift in 1980 which saw the adoption of larger rear lamp clusters (more in line with Giugiaro's original concepts), revised bumpers, a new dashboard with a more modern-looking instrument display, and for US versions square headlights.
The convertible version, named the Golf Cabriolet (or Typ 155), was sold from 1980 to 1993 (a convertible version of the Mark 2 Golf was not made, so the Mark 1 Cabrio with slight modification was produced until the introduction of the Mark 3 Cabrio). It had a reinforced body, transverse roll bar, and a high level of trim, and interestingly kept the pre-1980 style of rear lamp clusters. The Mark 1 Cabriolet is of unibody construction built entirely at the factory of Karmann, from stamping to final assembly; Volkswagen supplied the engine, suspension, interior, etc. for Karmann to install. The vinyl or cloth tops were insulated and manually or automatic operated, with a heated glass rear window.
As of 2006, Volkswagen of South Africa still manufactures two variants of the Mark 1 Golf, the five-door Citi Golf and the Volkswagen Caddy pickup. On September 22, 2006 in order to celebrate the continued success of the Mark 1 based Citi Golf in South Africa, Volkswagen SA announced the limited edition Citi R which is powered by a 90KW (120HP/123PS) 1.8L fuel injected engine with a five-speed manual transmission as well as a GTI trademark red outlined front grill.
There was a special version, named LX with 1.1L engine, which produced more power than the 1.3L engine. This version had a tuned GTI-like front grill, four front headlights, spoiler, alloy wheels and Recaro seats.
VW South Africa currently (2007) manufacture a large range of Mk1 variants, namely the Citi Golf range. The range starts with a standard Citi Golf, in either 1.4 or 1.6 litre fuel injected models. Many variants of the standard version are/were available with different extras packages, which included the Citi Rythm, Citi.com and so on. The current range topper is the VeloCiti, also available in 1.4i and 1.6i, made as sportier versions of the standard Citi to replace the previous sports version, the Citi Life. The latest Citi Golfs produced feature modern features, such as a new dashboard adapted from a VW Polo, and minor body "facelifts" such as revised tail-light clusters. The Citi Golf is still one of the best-selling and most popular small cars in South Africa.
The Volkswagen Rabbit GTI, the North American version of the high-performance Golf GTI, debuted in Canada in 1979 and in the United States for 1983 model year. Assembled from parts made in Mexico, Canada, Germany and the U.S. in Volkswagen's Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania assembly plant, it had the same Mark 1 chassis, and the same A1 body type as the Mark 1 Golf GTI that had been on sale in Europe since 1976, with a few exceptions. Key distinct features of the Rabbit GTI were its squared front end styling, and its alloy "snowflake" wheels. The interior came in red or blue felt and leatherette trim. The squared styling of the front end, particularly the wraparound direction indicator lights, gave it added safety and slight improvement in performance. Under the hood, the engine was a JH 1.8 liter 4-cylinder petrol engine that ran on unleaded fuel. The JH 1.8l was transversely mounted, and it would peak in stock condition at hp (67 kW), delivered through a close-ratio five-speed transmission. Claims for gas mileage of near-perfectly tuned Rabbit GTIs range between 25 and 30 miles per gallon.
When the Rabbit GTI first appeared in Canada, it featured the 1.6l engine and five-speed transmission. It was initially available in red, white, and black. These Canadian cars were German-built and were nearly identical in bodyshell and interior appearance to the hp (82 kW) Golfs built in Europe. Unfortunately for enthusiasts, the entire driveline and running gear was identical to the other Canadian versions. Five-MPH bumpers were fitted as well as anti-intrusion bars within the doors. The integral towing eye fitted to the front of the European car was deleted as the crashworthy bumpers had towing facilities as part of their design and the car had been crash-tested for Canada with the North American front apron. The car was very attractive but drove no better or worse than a Rabbit of the same era. Only with the arrival of the American GTI was a faster Golf available in Canada, and it was down horsepower (16 kW) compared to the 1.8 litre Golf GTI Mark I.
Mark 2
| Mark 2 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Production | 1983-1993 |
| Assembly | Wolfsburg, Germany TAS, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina New Stanton, Pennsylvania Puebla, Puebla, Mexico |
| Body style(s) | 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen A2 platform |
| Engine(s) | 1.3L hp (41 kW) I4
1.6L hp (56 kW) I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 3-speed automatic 4-speed/5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 2471 mm (97.3 in) |
| Length | 1984-88: 4013 mm (158 in) 1989-1993: 4041 mm (159.1 in) |
| Width | 5-Door: 1679 mm (66.1 in) 3-Door: 1664 mm (65.5 in) |
| Height | 1415 mm (55.7 in) |
| Related | Volkswagen Jetta Volkswagen Corrado SEAT Toledo |
The second-generation Golf (also known as the Typ 19 until the 1989 model year, or Typ 1G thereafter) was launched in Europe at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1983 (it debuted in 1984 in the UK, and it was introduced as a 1985 model in the US), and it featured a larger bodyshell and a wider range of engine options, including a GTD (In Euro markets, using the 1.6 "umwelt" diesel engine), a DOHC 1781 cc (1.8) 16-valve version of the straight-four GTI (as well as the tried and tested 1781 cc (1.8) 8v GTI), the supercharged 8v "G60" with front- and four-wheel drive options, and a racing homologated variant of this, the "Rallye".
This Golf was marketed for the first time with that name in the United States and Canada. The Rabbit name used on the Mark 1 was meant to give a car a cuddly image, but with the eighties redesign of the car, Carl Hahn, the former Volkswagen of America president who was now chairman of the whole company, dictated that Volkswagen model names be standardised globally. James Fuller, head of the Volkswagen brand in North America, concurred in using the Golf name to stress the car's Teutonic character. The GTI body kit became available on a non-injection Golf and was sold as the "Driver" trim level in Europe. While the GTI remained a trim level in the Golf lineup in Europe, in North America it was (and continues to be) marketed as a separate model line.
A very limited edition hand-built Golf Mark 2 variant exists, including all of the best features available at the time. Designed and built by the Volkswagen Motorsport division, only 71 of these "G60 Limited" models exist; featuring a unique number and plaque, the G60 supercharger was combined with the 16-valve GTI engine, mated to a sports transmission and Syncro four wheel drive mechanism. All of these special edition models came in black, with four doors (except two, built with three doors), a plain two-headlight grille (not the usual GTI quad-headlights) and a unique blue grille detail (not red, as the GTI) and motorsport badges. It is rumored that two examples were built with air conditioning. In 1989, these cars cost in the region of £25,000 (about US$41,250 at the time) each and were primarily sold to Volkswagen-Audi Group executives and management, although a few were known to survive in Britain, as of 2005. These cars produced bhp (158 kW), making them the most powerful VW Golfs ever produced up until then.
There was also a version called Golf Country, designed for light off-road driving. It had more suspension travel, four-wheel drive, bullbars (generally over a single headlight grill), a skidplate for protecting the engine area, and a spare wheel mounted externally on the back. In Europe it was offered with the acclaimed bhp (85 kW) 1.8 8v petrol engine, and in smaller numbers, the hp (56 kW) 1.6 GTD turbo diesel engine. The Golf Country was particularly popular in Alpine regions in central Europe. [citation needed]
During the life of the Golf 2, there were a number of external style revisions. The most notable was the introduction of so called "Big Bumpers", which were introduced in the European market with an August 1989 facelift. Other notable changes to the looks of the Golf 2 include the removal of quarterlight windows in the front doors, and the introduction of larger grill slats with the August 1987 facelift.
A 2.0 litre engine producing hp (100 kW) replaced the 1.8 in 1990 - 1992 North American 16V models. This version included 15" 2pc BBS RM wheels & the quad-round headlight grill w/ red trim. In the interior, the Recaro seats no longer had vinyl bolsters of earlier GTI's.
As with the North American Rabbit, the second-generation Golf was produced for North America in Pennsylvania. When sales in North America failed to live up to expectations and with increasing productions costs, the Westmoreland plant was closed in July 1988. Subsequent Golfs sold in North America came from Germany and Mexico. The Mark 2 Golf was discontinued in Europe in 1991, but Mexican-made Mark 2 models remained available in North America for another year.
In its first year on sale in North America, 1985, the Golf 2 maintained sealed-beam square headlights, while the GTI bore flush headlights. All Golfs gained flush "aerolamps" in 1987 after a design freshening to move it more upscale in the wake of the introduction of the Brazilian-built Fox (Voyage in Brazil) in North America. The 1985 U.S. models are easy to distinguish from subsequent models due to the absence of a high-mounted brakelight; these became required of all cars sold in the U.S. for 1986.
The GTI was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1985, as well as VWVortex's "Best Golf of all time". The Mark 2 GTI failed to make the same waves as the Mark 1, and failed to win back the Golf GTI's fanbase which had adopted the Peugeot 205 GTI. In North America, where Peugeot did not sell the 205 in any guise, Volkswagen faced tough competition from the Honda Civic S (later Si).
In its first year on sale in the U.S., Golf sales were eight percent below those of the 1984 Rabbit. Sales of the all-new 1985 Jetta, by contrast, sky-rocketed compared with the 1984 model. In 1986, the Jetta became VW's bestseller in North America, a position it has held ever since.
As with the Mark 1, there was a "warm hatch" version known as the Golf Driver. Introduced in 1988, it featured the GTI's exterior styling, namely the twin front headlamps, and wheelarch spoilers but with a standard 1.6 L engine. For the last year of production, the Driver was given a carburetted version of the GTI's 1781 cc engine. A Golf "GT" model was also briefly available in North America.
Sales in the UK were strong; though it never quite made the top 10 for sales in any of the eight years in sale, it came close. In 1990, it was the UK's 12th most popular car with almost 50,000 sales. As of 2007, 16 years after the MK2 Golf's demise, it is still a very common sight on British roads, quite unlike many other similar-sized cars of its generation, namely the Austin Maestro.
Mark 3
| Mark 3 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Also called | Volkswagen Cabrio |
| Production | 1994-1999 |
| Assembly | Wolfsburg, Germany Puebla, Puebla, Mexico, Slovakia |
| Body style(s) | 3-door hatchback 5-door station wagon 5-door hatchback 2-door convertible |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen A3 platform |
| Engine(s) | 1.4L hp (45 kW) I4 1.6L hp (56 kW) I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 4-speed/5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 1992-95: 2471 mm (97.3 in) 1996-99: 2474 mm (97.4 in) |
| Length | 4074 mm (160.4 in) |
| Width | 1694 mm (66.7 in) |
| Height | 1992-95 & Cabrio: 1422 mm (56 in) 1996-99: 1428 mm (56.2 in) |
| Related | Volkswagen Jetta SEAT Ibiza Volkswagen Polo |
The third-generation Golf (given the internal designation Typ 1H) was launched in November of 1991, although it did not appear in North America until the spring of 1993. The delay in North America was due to Volkswagen's decision to supply U.S. and Canadian dealerships with Mk 3 Golfs (and Mk 3 Jettas) from the VW plant in Puebla, Mexico. Quality control problems led Volkswagen of America to reject Golfs and Jettas from Mexico; shortly thereafter, labor unrest at the plant delayed production there even further. The third-generation Golf and Jetta finally made it to North America, first as 1993 models in the San Diego, California area and in Canada, then in the fall in the rest of North America as 1994 models. Three-door Golfs of this generation were mostly only available in North America in GTI form. The 1993 through 1995 Golfs were called "Golf III" in the United States to make it clear that they were different from the previous generation. The second-generation Golfs had increased insurance premiums, due in part to stereo systems that could easily be stolen, and the third-generation models were meant to correct that situation. Once the badge distinction was no longer necessary for insurance purposes, the Mark 3 Golf lost its Roman numerals suffix for 1996.
The third-generation Golf was elected Car of the Year in 1992. For the first time a station wagon derivative was produced. The GTI variants (especially with the straight-four 4 cylinder engine) are considered to be the poorest of the performance Golfs, with significantly increased weight, but with minimal power increases. A "best of breed" VR6 variant exists which was available in a well regarded "Highline" trim; this 2.8 L VR6 engine gave a significant boost in power to 174 PS (128 kW/172 hp) for the Mk 3, a car weighing only about 1285 kg (2836 lb). Compare that to the Mk 2 GTI that weighed 285 kg (629 lb) less but had only 139 PS (102 kW/137 hp) and a much smaller engine to tune (1.8 L). A convertible version of the Golf Mk 3 was launched as the Cabrio (Typ 1E).
A 16-valve version of the third-generation Golf GTI was introduced in 1993. This model was greeted with a muted sense of disenchantment by the motoring press. The engine was enlarged to 2.0 L, with power now reaching 150 PS (110 kW/148 hp). While underpowered compared to the VR6, it was still relatively popular with driving enthusiasts in Europe (North America didn't get the proper GTI version, but had the name applied to the VR6 engine). Once again the Golf Driver version took its place as the official GTI-look-alike but with a more humble single-point injected 1.8 L engine.
The Golf Mark 3 was also the predecessor of the diesel craze that swept through Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Volkswagen introduced the direct-injection system with the 90 PS Golf TDI in 1993. The 1996 TDI, at 110 PS (81 kW/108 hp) for a 1.9 L engine, wasn't the first diesel engine installed in a road car to achieve over hp (37 kW)/L, but it showed the public that diesel engines could be powered without losing their fuel efficiency, while also retaining massive amounts of low-end torque, in the TDI's case, 235 N·m (173 lbf·ft) at 1900 rpm.
Also offered was a conventionally aspirated (i.e., not turbocharged) version of the 1.9L diesel engine, the SDI, offering 47 kW, 65PS, hp (46 kW). This variant is considered to be particularly durable.
During the 1990s, Volkswagen sponsored three high-profile rock bands' European tours, and issued a special-edition Golf, with distinctive exterior markings, for each: the Golf Pink Floyd Edition (1994), the Golf Rolling Stones Edition (1995), and the Golf Bon Jovi Edition (1996).
In 1996 Volkswagen produced a limited 1000 special-edition 3-door "20th Anniversary" GTI model. This had the usual GTI specification but came equipped with chequered Recaro front sport seats and matching rear seats bearing the GTI logo, red seat belts front and rear, half-chromed and leather golf ball gear knob, red stitched leather steering wheel and handbrake gaiter. The release knob on the hand brake was also red and silver instrument dials. Floor mats also had red pipping along their edges. The red theme continued externally with a red striping on the bumpers and red brake calipers. The wheels were 16" x 7.5" split rim BBS RX II alloys, visually similar to the 15" that were found on VR6 model. Brush stainless steel rear twin tailpipes on the exhaust and smoked front fog and indicator lamps to match the rear lamps. 3 optional extras were made available; electric sunroof, air conditioning and metallic black paintwork. Insurance was based on the standard GTI which made this version a very desirable model. The edition was sold in only 6 colour schemes and the 1000 number figures that were produced was as follows; 600 8 valve models, 150 16 valve models and 250 TDI models. The diesel model was only produced for the European market and wasn't sold in the UK. The Golf Mk 3 was also available in "Ecomatic" Form. It was powered with a diesel engine and a clutchless manual transmission. The engine was switched off after 1.5 seconds of inactivity, whether by stopping or coasting. Re-starting the engine simply required depressing the accelerator pedal. VW had previously pioneered similar technology in the VW Polo "Formel E" in the 1980s.
As had happened with the Mark 1 and Mark 2, the Mark 3 remained available in US for a year after it was discontinued in Europe (1998).
The MK3 continued to be produced for the 1999 model year where it was sold in Canada and South America. These 1999 MK3 cars were the last produced in the world and sold along side the MK4 in showrooms.
- Awards
- 1997 Which? Magazine best buys: best family car
Mark 3 editions
 Pink Floyd |
 Rolling Stones |
 Bon Jovi |
 New Orleans |
 Europe |
 Avenue |
 Movie |
 Movie |
 Joker |
 Savoy |
 Special |
 Harlequin edition |
Mark 4
| Mark 4 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Also called | Volkswagen City Golf (Canada, 2006-present), |
| Production | 1997-2005 |
| Assembly | Wolfsburg, Germany Curitiba, Brazil, Slovakia |
| Body style(s) | 3-door hatchback 5-door station wagon 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen A4 platform |
| Engine(s) | 1.4L hp (56 kW) I4 1.9L hp (67 kW) I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 2512 mm (98.9 in) R32: 2517 mm (99.1 in) |
| Length | 1999-2002 GTI/Golf: 4148 mm (163.3 in) 2003-06 GTI/Golf: 4188 mm (164.9 in) R32: 4176 mm (164.4 in) |
| Width | GTI/R32/Golf: 1735 mm (68.3 in) |
| Height | GTI/Golf: 1440 mm (56.7 in) R32: 1425 mm (56.1 in) |
| Related | Volkswagen Jetta Audi A3 Audi TT Volkswagen New Beetle SEAT León SEAT Toledo II Skoda Octavia |
Launched in 1997, the Golf 4 (or VW Typ 1J) became the biggest selling car in Europe at one point. It was a deliberate attempt to take the Golf further upmarket, with a high-quality interior and higher equipment levels. Overall the level of maturity of the design and its target audience were also evident — the humorous plays on the game of golf which resulted in special edition models of the three earlier generations being called "Golf Ryder", "Golf Driver", not to mention the GTI's "golf ball" gearlever knob were dropped, and replaced with a more subtly styled golf ball knob.
Design and engineering
As with the B4 Passat the year before, the Golf Mark 4 was a significant car in its class. As with its big brother, not only was it the first step of VW moving its products upmarket to plug a gap between the mainstream machines and the premium cars, with SEAT and Škoda taking over as the mainstream brands in the Volkswagen Group; it also brought in a new level of interior quality and sophistication never seen before from a mainstream brand in the class. In fact, the quality of the Golf was on a par with its sister Audi A3 from the year before, but cost considerably more than other cars in its class.
The latest model remained faithful to the Golf concept but included some of the new "arched" styling themes first seen on the Mark 4 Passat.
Ride and handling was inferior to that of the Mk A Vauxhall Astra / Mark 2 Opel Astra and the Ford Focus.
As with the Mk 2 Golf, Volkswagen did not make a convertible version of the Mk 4 Golf. Instead, the firm replaced the front and rear bumper bars, gave the car the Mk 4 headlights and grille to give it the frontal styling of the Mk 4 Golf hatchbacks. The rear had its number plates moved into the bumper bar and a larger VW roundel was incorporated over the Mk 4's typical hatch handle. The interior was also improved with "pixel" treatment to the dashboard, blue lighting for the instrument panel and more use of chrome, such as the door handles.
Volkswagen Bora/Jetta Mk 4
Volkswagen spawned a saloon version of the Mk 4 Golf. As with previous incarnations of the Golf, it had its own identity, and this time was called the Volkswagen Bora although the name Jetta remained in North America and South Africa. Unlike its predecessors, the Bora/Jetta featured unique rear doors, front wings and bonnet. The front doors were the only body panels it shared with the Golf. The interior, though, was identical to the Golf, featuring none of the very minor styling changes found on its predecessor.
Germany, South Africa, Slovakia, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, and China all made the Golf 4. Eastern European locations making the Golf 4 included Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Vogošća (near Sarajevo), which also made Mk 1 and Mk 2 models. However, although the Bosnian Mk 4 was popular it was only available in the local market.
The Bora/Jetta Mk 4 engine choices included 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.3, 2.8 and 3.2 litre petrol engines, and a 1.9 litre turbodiesel, with power ranging from 68 to 150 PS (50 to 110 kW).
Volkswagen made a choice of three and five-door hatchback or a five-door station wagon available. The European Golf wagon was not identical to the North American Jetta wagon; the Golf wagon is shorter than the American Jetta wagon.
The Golf 4 was introduced to North America in mid-1999. Available engines for the Golf at its introduction to the American market were a 2.0 L gasoline engine, and a thrifty (48mpg) 1.9 L TDI engine. The latter soon developed a reputation for good low-speed torque and fuel economy, and can operate on alternative biofuels. In 2004 the updated 1.9L TDI PD or "Pumpe-Düse" engine was installed in the Golf and Jetta's. The "Pumpe-Düse" or Pump Nozzle was a Robert Bosch extreme high pressure fuel injection system for direct cylinder injection. A 1.8 L turbocharged gas engine was introduced in 2000, along with the 12-valve 2.8 L VR6. The 2.0 L gasoline engine was the base engine in the sportier GTI only as a 1999.5 model. For 2000, Volkswagen opted for the relatively new 1.8 L turbocharged gasoline engine as a base engine for the GTI. The top-of-the-line GLX model was equipped with Volkswagen's torquey 2.8 L VR6, which put out an impressive hp (130 kW). The VR6 engine, with its narrow 15-degree Vee design, was unique to Volkswagen. This engine is shorter and lighter than other V6 engines (featuring a single cylinder head) which benefits the handling characteristics of this front-wheel drive car. For the 2002.5 model year Volkswagen introduced a 24-valve version of its VR6 engine. This engine had the same torque characteristics of the older 12-valve version, with an extra hp (19 kW). This engine featured the first 6-speed manual available in the Mark 4 platform.
The 1.8T and VR6 models continued until 2005, when the Mk 4 platform came to an end.
The brazilian Golf TDI PD was sold in Canada due to its popularity as a full 2006 models in base, GL and GLS trim levels for the full model year as there were no diesel engine versions for the North American 2007 Mk 5 Golf (Rabbit).
In Europe, trim levels were country-specific, although some markets got E, S, SE, GTI and V5/V6/V6 4MOTION versions.
Awards
- 2000 CAP Used Car of the Year Awards - Best Small Hatch
- 2000 Diesel Car 2000 Awards - Best Hatchback
- 1999 Used Car Buyer Greatest Used Buy Awards - Best Small Family Car
- 1998 What Car? Car of the Year Awards - Best Small Hatch
- 1998 Top Gear Magazine Top Cars - Best Family Car
GTI 337 edition (2002)
The GTI 337 was officially introduced at the New York Auto Show and made it to dealers by late May 2002. The price of the GTI 337 was $22,225 in the U.S. and $32,900 in Canada. Only 1,500 units were produced for the US market with an additional 250 for the Canadian market. This model only came in Reflex Silver.
"The 337 name comes from the code name for the Golf model back in the early 1970s," said Frank Maguire, vice president in charge of sales and marketing at Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The GTI is the sport version of the Golf and since we didn't begin selling the GTI here until 1983, the name 337 seemed like a nice way to recognise the history of this vehicle and make it meaningful to our most enthusiastic drivers. This is a very unique [sic] car for the Volkswagen lover."
Starting with a hp (134 kW) 1.8T GTI GLS, the following extra equipment and changes have been made:
18" BBS RC Wheels with 225/40-ZR18 High-Performance Summer Tires; greatly improved sport suspension and 1" lower overall ride height; Votex body kit with front valance, side skirts, rear hatch wing and rear valance with 3" chromed exhaust tip; 315 mm (12.3") diameter vented front and 256 mm (10") rear vented brakes with red powder coated calipers; all-new six-speed MQ350 transmission; Recaro front seats in special "Le Mans" red and black cloth with custom GTI embroidery; brushed aluminum interior trim accents; red stitching on steering wheel, shift boot, handbrake knob seat belts and seats; special golf ball shift knob; aluminum pedals with rubber inserts; stainless steel exhaust with mild sound tuning; red trimmed floor mats; special exterior retro GTI badging; Monsoon sound system (U.S. only); and more.
20th anniversary edition (2003)
Following the initial commemorative 20th anniversary edition GTI produced in Europe in 1996 and the overwhelming popularity of the 25th anniversary edition GTI produced 2001 (GTI 337 edition in North America), Volkswagen of America produced 4,200 so-branded "20th Anniversary Edition" GTIs and 4000 were shipped to the United States and 200 to Canada. This event, in 2003, marked the 20th anniversary of the GTI's first introduction to the U.S. and Canadian market and some 7 years after the first GTI was produced in Europe. Several special features distinguish this new GTI from the rest of the pack.
On the outside, the 20th came with throwback red-lettered GTI logos on the left front and right rear. The rear was also accompanied by a vintage-look chrome rabbit. Blackened headlights added a distinctive look, while Votex front, rear, and side skirts along with a hatch spoiler and special edition 18" OZ Aristo alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sports complete the exterior transformation. These models were produced only in three colours: Imola Yellow, Jazz Blue and Black Magic Pearl. Distribution of production was 50% Black magic pearl, 25% Jazz Blue and 25% Imola Yellow.
Inside, a few accents were noticeable. Unlike other models, there were no options offered. The only true option was ESP, Volkswagen's stability control feature. All 20ths had a sunroof, black headliner, golf ball shift knob, black leather steering wheel with silver stitching, black leather shifter boot with silver stitching, preforated leather covered hand brake handle, and sporty black cloth Recaro bucket seats with silver stitching accents and red GTI emblems embroidered in the middle of the back rests. Aluminum trim came standard, complete with a numbered nameplate above the center console identifying the exact production number (US production only) of the vehicle. Volkswagen's premier 8-speaker Monsoon(tm) stereo system was also standard.
Mechanically, the 20th Anniversary Edition GTI is nearly identical to the GTI 337 Edition. A 6-speed manual MQ350 transmission marked the most notable departure from the norm, and upgraded suspension stiffened up the ride and lowered the car approximately 30 mm (uprated springs and shocks, increased sway bar diameters, and revised bushings in the rear). Upgraded disc brakes front (12.3" vented rotors) and rear (10.3" vented rotors) helped bring things to a stop, while red powder-coated calipers added a bit of flair to the package.
R32 (2004)
In 2002, Volkswagen produced the Golf R32 in Europe as a 2003 model. Due to unexpected popularity, Volkswagen (through Volkswagen of America) decided to sell the car in the United States as the 2004 Volkswagen R32. Billed as the pinnacle of the Golf IV platform, the R32 included every performance, safety, and luxury feature VW had to offer including the all new 3.2 L 24-valve VR6 engine producing a claimed bhp (180 kW) and ft·lbf ( N·m) of torque (it is commonly thought the U.S. R32 received the higher output Audi TT engine producing 250 bhp, although VW Europe have stated in the past that this was not the case), AWD, a new 6-speed manual transmission, independent rear suspension, automatic climate control, sport seats from Koenig, 18" OZ Aristo wheels, Electronic Stability Programme, massive (334 mm) brakes, sunroof, and model specific bodywork. In the US the vehicle was available in only four colours: Black Magic Pearl, Deep Blue Pearl, Reflex Silver, and Tornado Red.
The distribution of colours were as follows:
Deep Blue Pearl: 40%
Reflex Silver: 35%
Black Magic Pearl: 15%
Tornado Red: 10%
Although the R32 shared a similar appearance with the 25th Anniversary GTI, the R32 shared the vast majority of its major components with the 3.2 L Audi TT, most notably, the engine, all wheel drive system, and both front and rear suspension geometries. Five thousand cars were produced and intended to be sold over a two-year period, but the entire line was sold out within 13 months.
The Golf R32's competitors (at the time of production) were the Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, although, unlike these cars, the R32 was not sponsored by Volkswagen in rally competitions. Instead of testing the car by participating in WRC Rally Racing, VW focused on the stability and drivability in everyday conditions, creating a car that cannot be compared to the Subaru Impreza WRX STi or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII.
The R32 remains the quickest car that Volkswagen has imported to the U.S., capable of 0-100 km/h in only 6.6 seconds, and clearing the quarter mile in only 14.1 seconds at 99.2 mph. The R32 edges out its fastest sibling, the top-of-the-line Phaeton 6.0 litre W12 (414 bhp), by a tenth of a second at the foot ( m) mark.
It also has a surprisingly high resale and used-car value; the Kelley Blue Book used car retail price (the price an individual might expect to pay for one from a dealer) for a model in excellent condition with low mileage actually exceeds the original retail price of the car in many cases, making it one of a few recent cars that have actually approached an increase in value over time. This premium can be explained mostly due to scarcity, both of the cars themselves due to low production and importation, and especially ones that still have extremely low mileage.
Mark 4 "City Golf" in Canada, South America and Bora HS in China
In Canada, the Golf 4 continues to be (as of October 2007) sold alongside the Mark 5 model badged as the Rabbit. The Canadian model was renamed as the City Golf. It is not marketed in the United States. It has a base price of C$15,300 (2008 model). As an entry-level alternative to the Rabbit, it offers only one engine: the 2.0L SOHC with horsepower (86 kW). It is not related to the South African Volkswagen Citi Golf, despite the similarity in name. Similarly, the Mk 4 Jetta has been reintroduced for the 2007 model year in Canada as the City Jetta.
In China, FAW-VW will launch a new Golf IV, with FAW-VW's Bora facelift front, at the Beijing International Automobile Exhibition in November 2006. It is named Bora HS to compliment the Bora Mark IV range, as the Golf name will be reserved for the Golf V soon to manufactured by FAW-VW.
The Golf Mark 4 also continues to be sold in countries like Brazil and Mexico. However, in Mexico the range is available with 1.6- and 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol, or a 1.9-litre bhp (97 kW) turbodiesel. In Chile, it is also sold, with the same options as in Mexico, except for the diesel. Instead, there is a turbo 1.8 version available. All of these are 4-cylinder petrol engines.
In Brazil, the Mark 4 Golf has a 1.6 (with Volkswagen Totalflex system which accepts both gasoline or alcohol), 1.8 Turbocharged engine and 2.0-litre engine, and comes in many trim level only.
Volkswagen Brazil is preparing a major restyling of the forth generation. It will be sold in most Latin America countries, since it is produced in Brazil. The front will take styling cues from the current Volkswagen Polo and the back of the car is inspired by the current European version Golf 5.
Mark 5
| Mark 5 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Also called | Volkswagen Rabbit |
| Production | 2003–present |
| Assembly | Wolfsburg, Germany Uitenhage, South Africa |
| Body style(s) | 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen A5 platform |
| Engine(s) | 1.6L hp (76 kW) I4 1.6L hp (86 kW) FSI I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 6-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 2578 mm (101.5 in) |
| Length | 4211 mm (165.8 in) |
| Width | 1760 mm (69.3 in) |
| Height | Rabbit: 1478 mm (58.2 in) GTI: 1483 mm (58.4 in) |
| Related | Volkswagen Touran Volkswagen Jetta Volkswagen Golf Plus Volkswagen Eos Volkswagen Passat Audi A3 Audi TT Volkswagen Tiguan |
The fifth generation Golf (VW Typ 1K) was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October of 2003 and went on sale in Europe one month later. To commemorate this, Wolfsburg was renamed "Golfsburg" for a week. It reached North American markets in June 2006 rebadged with the revived Rabbit nameplate.[2] Most print ads for the Rabbit show the old badge (a running rabbit) with the phrase "It's back, at $14,990." TV ads show Rabbits chasing after each other with their numbers increasing until they fill the streets of a city, a take on the cliche "multiplying like rabbits". In North America, where SEAT and Skoda are not marketed, Volkswagen sought to revive their image on that continent as a value brand, and the pricing of the new Rabbit was a part of that strategy. The mk5 is due to be replaced in 2008 by the mk6 in Europe and the UK. The US may expect to see the mk6 by 2009/10.
Design and Engineering
While the interior quality of the previous model startled rivals and led most of them to up their game in revised/replacement models, the astonishing chassis and all round ability of the Mark 1 Ford Focus startled Volkswagen (and indeed other rivals). In order to counter criticisms of the average dynamics of the previous model, it is widely reputed that Volkswagen poached from Ford the engineering team who designed the multi-link 'control blade' rear suspension system, widely regarded as the class benchmark for ride and handling. The suspension changes, along with careful tuning of the chassis, led to the Mark 5 Golf delivering better road manners.
The bulletproof interior quality of the previous generation appears to have been lost, and although still of a very high standard and ahead of other rivals the Golf no longer matches its in-house rival, the Audi A3. Many believe the reason for this step back in quality, also seen in the Mark 5 Passat of 2005, is to allow daylight between the marketing and price positioning of Audi and Volkswagen products. The previous generation Volkswagens were on a par with their Audi cousins.
The Golf 5 has proven expensive to build - largely due to its uncommonly long 50-hour build time. According to multiple reports in the European press, its replacement is thus likely to be rolled out in 2008, a good two years earlier than originally scheduled. This means that the production run of the U.S. version of the Mark 5, introduced only in 2006 two years after its world debut - is likely to have an uncommonly short production run.
Awards
- 2007 Car and Driver - Among Ten Best of the Year (GTI)
- 2007 Automobile Magazine - Car of the Year (GTI)
- 2006 Drive - Best Performance Car under $60k AUS (GTI)
- 2006 Australia's Best Cars - Best Sports Car (GTI)
- 2005 Australia's Best Cars - Best Sports Car (GTI)
- 2005 Auto Express - Best Hot Hatch (Golf GTI)
- 2005 Auto Express - Best Sporting Car (Golf GTI)
- 2004 WhatCar? Car of the Year
- 2004 WhatCar? Best Small Family Car
- 2004 Winner - AutoExpress New Car Honours
- 2004 Best Hatch - BBC Top Gear Magazine Awards
Engines
Options for engines and transmissions vary from country to country, but the Golf is available with a gasoline 4-cylinder and a new PD diesel unit-injector TDI engine. Transmission options include manual, automatic, Tiptronic, and direct-shift gearbox (DSG).
North American-spec Rabbits use the same hp (112 kW) 2.5L five-cylinder gasoline engine that powers the Jetta and New Beetle in these markets (however, for 2008 this engine receives a power increase of hp (15 kW) and ft·lbf ( N·m) of torque, bringing the numbers to 170 and 177, respectively). The GTI comes with VW's 2.0L turbo 4 which makes hp (150 kW) and 207 lb/torque. North American transmission choices include a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic for the Rabbit. North American GTIs receive a 6-Speed manual or 6-speed DSG. Diesel engines have been unavailable on Rabbits, though they were offered through 2006 on the Jetta until tightening emissions regulations in the U.S. led to their temporary unavailability.
All of the Golf's engines, including the VR6, have the engine mounting points in the same place, making it possible to remove one engine and replace it with another while making few other modifications to the car.
In September 2005, the Golf mk5 GT was announced, which featured a choice of either 1.4 L petrol engine in twincharger configuration or a 2.0 liter Turbo Diesel. Both are available as 125 kW (170 PS, 168 bhp) versions; while the diesel also is available as a 140 PS variant in the UK. The 170 PS diesel has 350 Nm (258 ft·lbf) of torque which is more than the range topping R32. The gasoline offering contains the new TSI engine, which is based on the recent FSI, but with a pair of chargers forcing the induction of the air. The chargers are a single supercharger that disengages after a specified rev-range, at which point charging of the air is handled by a single turbocharger. This system could benefit from both of the efficiency of the supercharger in the lower rev ranges, with the longevity of the turbocharger higher in the rev range. This results in no turbo lag, constant power delivery along the rev range, and better fuel efficiency than similarly powered V6 2.4 L due to its small size. Both petrol and diesel versions are also available with DSG (direct-shift gearbox). Performance figures for the petrol vehicle are 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.9s (6 speed) and 7.7s (DSG) with the diesel taking 8.2s, and both reaching top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph). Volkswagen has no plans to sell it as the Rabbit GT in the US and Canada.
Mark 5 Jetta
main article: Volkswagen Jetta#Mark 5
A trunked version of the Mark 5 Golf was spawned in 2004 and, as with previous incarnations of the Golf, it maintained its own identity, a practice long abandoned by most rivals. While the Jetta name has always remained in North America, the name made a return to Europe replacing the Bora name of the previous Golf saloon. The Jetta name was also introduced to Australia with the Mark 5, the Mark 4 Bora being a slow seller there.
As with its predecessor the Mark 5 Jetta features unique front wings, front doors and rear doors, so the only external panel shared with the Golf is the bonnet. As with all Golf-based saloons, the Jetta features a unique grille which is only shared with the contemporary Golf R32 (although the GLI variant has the Golf GTI's front end). Unlike all previous saloon variants however, the front lights were now shared with the Golf.
Because of the preference for sedans in the US market, the Jetta outsells the Golf by a ratio of 4 to 1.[3]
Mark 5 Golf Variant
The third generation of the Golf Variant was presented in a world premiere at the International Geneva Motor Show (March 8 to 18 2007). It is to be sold in the North American markets as the Jetta Sportwagen.
Golf Plus
In December 2004, Volkswagen announced the Golf Plus variant of the Golf 5. It is 9.5 cm taller than the standard Golf, but 15 cm shorter than the other compact MPV of the marque, the seven-seater Touran. The Plus would replace the Variant station wagon in the Golf lineup, although a Mark 5 Golf Variant was revealed in 2007.
There will be no convertible version of the Golf 5, as the Eos coupé convertible (introduced in Spring 2006) will be marketed as a separate model and the New Beetle convertible makes a droptop Golf redundant. The Eos does not share body panels with any other Volkswagen model, although it is based on the Jetta/Golf platform.
At the 2006 Paris Motor Show Volkswagen released the new CrossGolf compact MPV, which is essentially an off-road version of the Golf Plus. It was developed by VW Individual brand which developed the Golf R32 and CrossPolo. The CrossGolf is only available in front-wheel drive configuration (like the CrossPolo) and is powered by two petrol engines 1.6 & 1.4 TSI and two Diesel engines, 1.9 TDI & 2.0 TDI with output ranging from 75 kW / 102 PS to 103 kW / 140 PS.
 Golf Plus 2004-Present |
 Golf Plus (rear view) 2004-Present |
 CrossGolf 2006-Present |
Performance models
Mark V GTI
The Golf 5 GTI is hailed as a return-to-form for the progenitor of the genre. The Golf GTI features a 2.0 litre turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine with FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection) direct-injection technology, which produces bhp (150 kW). It is available in both 3-door and 5-door hatchback body shapes, and comes with a choice of either 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DSG gearbox which greatly reduces shift time to only 8ms.[1] The concept GTI was first shown to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003. The first production model was initially unveiled at the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris in September 2004 and went on sale around the world shortly thereafter. At the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006 the GTI made its long awaited North American debut in 3-door guise (a 5-door variant has since become available), where it is marketed solely under the 'GTI' moniker, with no reference to the Rabbit. The new GTI has a considerable price increase over the previous model, mainly due to the features mentioned above and the fact that the exterior itself had not seen such a dramatic design change in years. The price is further raised due to the fact that it is built in Germany, unlike the MK4 which was built in Brazil. The innovative DSG transmission and the bhp (150 kW) engine all helped raise the retail price of the car. The Mark V GTI named Automobile of the Year by Automobile Magazine, in December 2006. The initial American ad campaign for