Volkswagen Golf celebrates 40 years

• Golf is the most successful model in history of Volkswagen
• Democratised technology in the compact hatch segment
• Over 705 000 Golfs sold in South Africa since 1978

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 (over 705 000– Citi Golf included – have been sold in South Africa) vehicles of the best-seller have been sold worldwide. From day one, the Golf has reflected technological progress.

Whether turbo engine, direct-injection engine, ABS, ESC, XDS, 4MOTION, trailer stabilisation, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, automatic air conditioning, Dynaudio sound system, touchscreen with proximity sensor or LED headlights, Trendline, Comfortline, Highline or GTI – it was always the Golf through which the most important technologies and trends of our time were democratised.

Golf I. The first series production Golf rolled off the assembly line in Wolfsburg on 29 March 1974 (1978 in Uitenhage). Where for decades the Beetle and thus rear-mounted engines and rear-wheel drive had dominated the scene, a new era had now dawned: that of the transversely mounted front engine and front-wheel drive.

As the successor to the legendary Beetle, of which over 21.5 million units were built, the Golf I, designed by Giorgio Giugiaro and Volkswagen Design, had to live up to the immense expectations that it would carry on the success story of what until then was the world’s most successful car. It worked: The modern and reliable drive concept, the excellent spatial economy and ultimately the design as well, 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 (1982 in South Africa), 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. Over 377 000 of these units were the venerable and legendary Citi Golf which was only manufactured for the local market from 1985 until 2009.

Golf II. As of August 1983 (1984 in South Africa), passengers no longer sat quite so close to each other, since spatial utilisation had been improved once more. As a matter of fact: it was the Golf that introduced the regulated catalytic converter (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 (launched in 1992 in South Africa), 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. In addition, numerous other technological milestones of the model range are linked to the third Golf. Many new features made their debuts in this new Golf: the first six cylinder engine (VR6), cruise control. Likewise, ABS became a standard feature on 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 Europe in 1998 and a year later in South Africa. Under the direction of Hartmut Warkuß, then Head of Design at Volkswagen (Group), 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. With the debut of ESC (in 1998), the car continued to democratise safety. One year later, ESC became a standard feature. The first direct-injection engine (FSI) and the debut of the standard head airbag (window airbags) followed in 2002. Also in 2002, Volkswagen launched the R32 in Europe, with a top speed of 250 km/h. It was this top model of the range that in 2003 was 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 its class way behind when in launched in 2003 (launched in South Africa in 2004). The same went for the car’s security. One factor that underlines the stability of the laser-welded bodywork was the 35 per cent increase in torsion rigidity. On order, the Golf was now also available for the first time with side airbags – together with the six standard airbags (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 turbo- and 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 cars had been produced by the end of July 2012, based on the sixth generation of the car launched in 2008 (2009 in South Africa). And once again safety made great advances too: the car 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/100 km, equivalent to 99 g/km CO2. New assistance systems - such as Park Assist, rear view camera - made the sixth generation the most advanced Golf to date. The sixth generation Golf was fully imported from Germany.

Golf VII. In September 2012 (introduced in South Africa in February 2013), Volkswagen celebrated the world premiere of the seventh Golf. The weight of the new Golf was reduced by up to 100 kg, thereby reversing the often cited upward weight spiral. Fuel economy was improved by a maximum of 23 percent, depending on engine selection. The new Golf TDI BlueMotion consumes only 3.2 l/100 km (equivalent to 85 g of CO2/km) under standard 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. In addition, the new Golf GTE will be launched in Europe in the second half of 2014. Its plug-in hybrid drive system achieves a standard fuel consumption of 1.5 l/100 km; in all-electric mode, the Golf GTE can be driven for 50 kilometres.

The Golf is the most successful model ever built by Volkswagen. Late in 2013 the 30 millionth Golf, a seventh-generation model, 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).

-Quickpic: Volkswagen SA

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