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Golf
Golf
The Golf has been around since 1974 and has lent its name to a whole generation of cars. No other European car has recorded such a high sales figure. Up to the end of 2017, almost 35 million units had already been sold. Calculations suggest that somewhere in the world, someone has opted for a new Golf every 40 seconds for the past four decades. The Golf is now produced at five plants, in Germany, Brazil, China and Mexico, and exported to 155 countries all over the globe. The current seventh-generation Golf is the only car in the world to be available with electric, hybrid, gasoline, diesel and CNG powertrains.
Press releases
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Volkswagen at the Techno Classica 2017: the best of both worlds
The world's biggest show for classic automobiles is opening its doors: at the Techno Classica, which is being held from 5 until 9 April in Essen, Volkswagen Classic is presenting two different themes on one stand this year. ‘Driven by the future' is showcasing prototypes and small-scale production runs of vehicles with electric drive systems. The exhibits, some of which are being shown in public for the first time, tell an ‘electrifying' story. Volkswagen began conducting research into alternative drive technologies more than 40 years ago. In the second themed area entitled ‘You better look twice', visitors can look forward to sports classics with the ‘wow effect' under the bonnet: on show are fast production models from the 1970s and 1980s, whose mighty horsepower potential only becomes evident upon closer inspection. -
Countdown to Golf update in November: The sixth Golf – leading the way in terms of safety
The countdown is under way: in six days Volkswagen will present a major update of the Golf in Wolfsburg. That will herald the launch of a Golf which will democratise progress yet again. An ongoing tradition since the launch of the first Golf 42 years ago. With the debut of the sixth-generation Golf (2008), more and more luxury class assistance systems found their way into the compact segment – marking the beginning of a silent revolution in automotive safety. -
Countdown to Golf update in November: The fifth Golf – pure dynamism and the comeback of the GTI
The Golf's debut in 2003 left many a competitor from the higher mid-class standing with its comfort, dynamism and quality. Just one year later, a 200-PS Golf with black radiator grille and sports seats in the legendary tartan "Interlagos" fabric heralded the comeback of the GTI. Demand for the Golf, demand for the GTI has never let up since then. To date, the Golf GTI is the most successful sports car in the compact segment. The Golf itself is unassailable as the best-selling European car ever. Now just before the launch of this bestseller update in November, it's time to take a look back. At the Golf MkV and 2003. -
Countdown to Golf update in November: Just as you like it – the unparalleled variety of Golf
When Volkswagen presented the first generation of the Golf in 1974, this was the beginning of an impressive success story. And by this we are not just talking about more than 33 million Golf cars produced since day 1. But rather the unique fact that Volkswagen is the world's first and only automotive manufacturer to offer all currently relevant drive systems in one series – with the Golf. There are also various car bodies and the most individual of equipment lines. The very first Golf in 1974 thus became the catalyst for a vehicle family that meets an unusual number of mobility wishes. -
Countdown to Golf update in November: The fourth Golf – the style icon of the series
In 1997, the Golf MkIV was created under the direction of the Volkswagen Group Head of Design Hartmut Warkuß (1993 to 2003). Today, the fourth generation is considered a style icon – particularly because of its graphic clarity and fundamental C-pillar series design forming a bridge to the 1974 Golf MkI. However, the Golf MkIV was not only pioneering in terms of its looks, it was groundbreaking in its engineering as well. Volkswagen achieved a totally new standard of quality in this market segment with this car and thus became the first manufacturer to overcome vehicle class boundaries. With the debut of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in the Golf (1998), the car continued to democratise safety. By 2003, 4.99 million units of the Golf MkIV, including all of its derivatives, had been produced. -
Countdown to Golf update in November: The third Golf - wedge shaped and heralding a new era of safety
The third Golf came onto the market in August 25 years ago. With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear: Volkswagen brought in a new era of safety with this model. On the one hand, the Golf MkIII was the first of the series to have front airbags, starting in 1992, while major advances in car body construction also resulted in significantly improved crash safety. The third generation, however, also made a great design leap: it was the first Golf with a wedge shape that was as dynamic as it was aerodynamic. -
Countdown to Golf update in November: Volkswagen democratises safety with the Golf
For more than four decades, Golf technologies have been mirrored in the automotive world. What's more: Volkswagen has democratised progress with these innovations. In particular, thanks to the Golf, safety systems are no longer the privilege of a few, but an expected feature for all. It started with basics such as appropriate headrests and a secure chassis. This was followed by crash-optimised bodywork, airbags and ABS. Electronic stability control (ESC) first appeared in 1998 and is still helping drivers today to keep control of the vehicle in potentially dangerous situations. The next stage was innovative assistance systems which created a safety revolution: from City Emergency Braking which anticipates dangers in city traffic and prevents collisions, to the Blind Spot Monitor which takes away the threat of the blind spot. The Golf's assistance systems are wide-ranging. Now the countdown for the Golf update is underway – and this will once again make the road safer. -
Countdown for the Golf update in November: The second Golf – the DNA of a worldwide success story
The Golf is unique, forgery-proof. A design icon. In November, Volkswagen will show how this unique gem has evolved with its update of the Golf. A masterpiece in automotive design continuously refined over seven generations. A phenomenon, because the Golf is one of the few affordable cars in the world that is truly classless. Experts agree – the most defining moment in the history of the Golf came in the late 70s when the decision was made to create the Golf MkII by further developing the Golf MkI's design DNA. And so the "Golf Phenomenon" came about – the Volkswagen of all Volkswagen cars; the perfect image of the brand; a compact car with a classless status reaching out to all levels of society. -
Countdown to Golf update in November: The first Golf – birth of an icon
Volkswagen is preparing a major update for the Golf. World premiere coming up in November. It will be the update of a style-icon. Head of Design at Volkswagen Klaus Bischoff says, "there are only a few cars in the world other than the Golf which have so consistently continued to develop their design from generation to generation," Bischoff goes on to explain, "vehicles which successfully manage an evolution of their design over decades have the potential to one day be celebrated as an icon. The most prominent example of such a development is the Porsche 911; in the high volume models segment, however, the Golf is clearly a member of the automobile Hall of Fame." -
World premiere in November: The countdown has begun for an extensive Golf update
The countdown has begun: in early November, Volkswagen will be introducing a major update for its most successful model – the Golf. This bestseller has been around for more than four decades. An entire generation has been named after it as Generation X is known as "Generation Golf" in Germany. No other European car has sold better. By the end of last year, 32,590,025 Golf cars had been sold. In effect, therefore, over the last 42 years someone, somewhere in the world decides to buy a new Golf every 40 seconds. Record-breaking statistics like these have shaped the car's history. And Volkswagen democratises progress to this very day with the Golf. -
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2016: Volkswagen celebrates 40 years of the Golf GTI in England
It is one of the most extraordinary events for classic automobiles and racing cars of every era: the Goodwood Festival of Speed. And it all starts today. Everyone who's anyone will be there when the Earl of March and Kinrara, Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, opens the gates of his estate in Westhampnett, England for the festival. This year at the site, two hours' drive from London, they will be celebrating a Volkswagen icon: the Golf GTI. For it is now 40 years young. The journey across the English Channel has been made by a Golf Mk1 GTI racing car and the new Golf GTI Clubsport S. Another star at the spectacle of speed will be the Polo R WRC. Both the Golf Mk1 GTI and Polo R WRC will be taking part in the legendary hill climb. At the wheel: racing drivers Strietzel Stuck and Jari-Matti Latvala. -
Golf production at Wolfsburg plant – people and robots work hand-in-hand
At the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, people and robots are to work hand-in-hand in the future. With immediate effect, human-machine interaction (HMI) is to be put into practice for the first time in the production of the Golf. In the pre-assembly of powertrains, the fitting of individual powertrain components to produce an engine that is ready for installation, human employees are to receive the support of a robot. -
Wörthersee Meet 2016: Volkswagen celebrates the 40th birthday of the Golf GTI
The countdown is running: on 4 May, the 35th Wörthersee Meet begins. Tens of thousands of GTI fans will be there in picturesque Reifnitz on the southern shore of Lake Wörthersee for a gigantic party to celebrate the 40th birthday of the cult hot hatch. Volkswagen is bringing all seven generations of the Golf GTI and the new Golf GTI Clubsport along to the festival. That is far from all, however: during the course of this legendary GTI meet, Volkswagen will also be unveiling – as a world premiere – an even hotter variant of the 'Clubsport'. The most powerful full-production Golf to date will launch as a special limited edition this autumn. -
GTI encounter of a special kind
Two legends meet each other for the first time. Both are anniversary models, furnished with the three magical letters GTI – the synonym for sportiness and dynamic handling at Volkswagen – and with "a touch more GTI" on board. But that's then it already with things they have in common: for while the first anniversary model, the Golf GTI Pirelli, came onto the market in 1983 with 112 PS, the latest anniversary model, the Golf GTI Clubsport, has a much more powerful engine, delivering 265 PS. -
Volkswagen R GmbH - Key aspects
The company came into being in March 2010, evolving from the former Volkswagen Individual GmbH, which was founded in the spring of 2003. The company's main task is to drive forward and support making the Volkswagen models more emotional and dynamic. The products of Volkswagen R GmbH are currently offered in over 70 countries. -
Golf R celebrates its world premiere at the IAA
The most powerful Golf in the model range excites with 300 PS of power and a sprint time of just 4.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h. The vehicle's distinctive styling also highlights its sporty character. -
Golf R – the new Flagship
It is the year of the Golf. The first six months of 2013 have already seen the debuts of the new Golf GTI, Golf GTD, Golf Estate and Golf TDI BlueMotion. Now, Volkswagen is continuing its Golf product offensive with the flagship of the model series – the new Golf R. -
The new Golf TDI BlueMotion – key aspects
With the arrival of the new Golf TDI BlueMotion, Volkswagen is launching one of the most fuel-efficient cars of our time. This Golf is powered by a new direct-injection turbodiesel (TDI) with 81 kW / 110 PS. The four-cylinder engine consumes only 3.2 l/100 km; this value represents a 15 per cent improvement in fuel economy compared to the already extraordinarily fuel-efficient previous model. The CO2 emissions of the Golf TDI BlueMotion stand at 85 g/km, one of the best values worldwide for automobiles with combustion engines. Despite all the efficiency: the Golf TDI BlueMotion, which has a top speed of 200 km/h, is a true five-seat multi-talent that offers safe, comfortable and agile transportation to its passengers in their professional and private lives. Refuelling becomes a minor matter: given its 50-litre fuel tank and 3.2 l/100 km fuel consumption, the Golf TDI BlueMotion has a theoretical driving range of more than 1,500 kilometres. -
Volkswagen celebrates the 30 millionth Golf
It is an event of historical dimensions: the world's 30 millionth Golf has come off the assembly line at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg – a new production record for the most successful European car ever. Production of the original Golf began in early 1974. Since then, statistically speaking, an average of over 2,000 people have purchased a new Golf – "das Auto" itself – every day over the past 39 years. The 30 millionth car is a Golf TDI BlueMotion; this recently introduced model has a fuel consumption value of just 3.2 l/100 km, making it the most fuel efficient Golf ever built. -
Golf GTD – brief summary
GTD – these three letters say it all. They stand for "Gran Turismo Diesel" – the long-distance express car of the Golf range. Now there is a new Golf GTD. With 135 kW / 184 PS, up to 380 Nm torque, a combined fuel consumption of just 4.2 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of just 109 g/km, this sporty and sharply designed GTD is more powerful, fuel-efficient and lower-emitting than ever. Compared to the previous model, it offers 14 more PS, 30 Nm more torque, 0.9 l/100 km less fuel consumption and a 25 g/km improvement in CO2 emissions. As an option, Volkswagen offers the GTD with an automatic dual-clutch gearbox (DSG); here too, a low fuel consumption value of 4.5 l/100 km (CO2: 119 g/km) shows the diesel to be a highly efficient car. In both gearbox versions, the new Golf GTD conforms to the Euro-6 emissions standard that takes effect in 2014. -
New Golf GTD celebrates its world premiere in Geneva
Extremely fuel efficient, but extremely sporty – it is these attributes that have excited fans of the Golf GTD over the past three decades. At this year's Geneva International Motor Show, Volkswagen is presenting the latest version of this extreme athlete whose 135 kW / 184 PS TDI engine already complies with the challenging EU-6 emissions standard today. -
When the Golf simply could not be matched by the competition
The Golf was the best-selling car in its class – even in its first two generations. However, it was an innovative push that began with the debut of the third generation exactly 20 years ago that really extended the Golf's lead over the competition: its higher ¬positioning in the compact class was based on the introduction of a new VR6 six-cylinder engine and a direct-injection turbodiesel engine. Both were milestone achievements: the six-cylinder technology created a foundation for later premium models, while the TDI became the most successful engine of the model series and initiated today's diesel boom. -
To the point: Golf GTI-Meet at Wörthersee 2010: World premiere of the GTI adidas and GTI Excessive
There are automobiles, and then there are automotive icons – classics with a glorious past and an exciting future. The Golf GTI is such an icon. Over 1.7 million have been sold since the car’s debut in 1976. In just the sixth year after the launch of the Golf GTI, its community of fans had grown so large that it sought a common platform, or to put it simply an event, to talk shop, showcase and drive the GTI. That is how the GTI-Meet in Reifnitz at Wörthersee came into being in 1982. Since then, fans have been meeting in the Austrian state of Kärnten for five days of Mardi Gras in May. It is already time to meet again. One of the traditional highlights: unveiling of the new GTI variations. Debuting as world premieres this year are the Golf GTI adidas – an exclusive model whose sales will launch in June – and the Golf GTI Excessive, a concept car implemented in a stylistically refined motorsport look. -
To the Point: New Polo, Golf and Passat BlueMotion: Volkswagen radically reduces fuel costs
"BlueMotion" is the best known German automotive environmental label. It debuted in 2006 with the first generation of the Polo BlueMotion, and its combined fuel con sumption figure of just 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres was the best in the world for a five-seat car. At the same time, this Polo represented the beginning of a product offensive being conducted today under the "BlueMotion-Technologies" umbrella brand, which is as unique as it is successful. Volkswagen is now presenting the three key high-volume models in its range as newly designed BlueMotion versions: the Polo, Golf and Passat. All three Volkswagens are equipped with an exceedingly innovative high-tech package, yet they are affordable for all car drivers. This package includes new common rail TDI engines, recovery of braking energy by regenerative braking, a Stop-Start system and refined aerodynamic components. -
To the Point: Comeback of a Classic:Volkswagen brings the new Golf GTD to market
The Golf model lineup has been growing by leaps and bounds: At the end of 2008, the sixth generation of the bestseller was launched. Shortly thereafter, in early 2009, the new Golf Plus appeared. Then, the current Golf GTI was vaulted to center stage, closely followed by the new Golf Variant. And now the lineup continues: with the new Golf GTD. Its 125 kW / 170 PS power level makes it the highest-performance production Golf with a diesel engine today. The code letters GTD have a magical effect on diesel drivers and carry on a long tradition: 27 years ago the first GTD debuted and revolutionized the diesel market with its turbocharged diesel engine; for the first time, a diesel was not only economical but exceedingly sporty too. The GTD paved the way for the worldwide breakthrough of the TDI – the direct-injection high-tech diesel of the Volkswagen Group. -
The Golf GTI
The Golf GTI is back and breaking all records. It is stronger, better and more sought after than ever. With this Golf GTI at its best, Volkswagen offers a Golf of the purely sporty type, a GTI with a character of that, offered in the mid-nineties generation. This Golf GTI comes full circle - it unites the origins and future of an ingenious idea. -
The Golf
Thanks to its technical superiority and sovereign good looks, this fifth generation of the Golf, introduced in October 2003, assumes once again an incomparable position in the world market. Since its introduction in May 1974, this successful model has established itself as the best-selling car both in and outside Germany for more than three decades in spite of constantly growing competition. The Golf is absolutely "The Car" and the benchmark for the competition. The only model range to have a compact segment named for it, the Golf possesses a genuinely classless status which crosses all social borders. Its owners value their car for its authenticity, its comfort, its safety and its unbounded suitability for everyday use as well as for perfect attention to detail, high standards for material quality and the general ease of travel which the Golf enables. -
TDI and TSI: sporty Golf GT out now
New Golf GT is being launched with two equally powerful engines: either the innovative 1.4 I TSI or the 2.0 l TDI with diesel particulate filter as standard, each with 125 kW.
Stories
Three letters. One lake. Since 1982.
Postcard idyll set against an Alpine backdrop, tranquil villages nestling along the shores, but once a year things really start to seethe at Lake Wörth or Wörthersee as it is known in German. Then, the tranquil town of Reifnitz is turned into a giant automobile playground and for days the visitors eyes are lit up with G – T – I.
Background Reports
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International Driving Presentation - The new Golf GTI Clubsport S
The Golf GTI Clubsport S breaks the lap record for front-wheel-drive cars on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with a time of 07:49:21 This exclusive GTI is a two-seater with a 310 PS engine and newly configured chassis -
40 Years of Golf
Best-seller – the Golf was built more than 30 million times until now Trendsetter – the Golf democratised safety, sportiness and sustainability -
International driving presentation of the new e-Golf
Zero-emission e-Golf glides through the day for around €3.30** per 100 km Electric Golf is also available with high-tech assistance systems -
The new Golf R
New TSI propels Golf R with DSG to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds Golf R makes its debut with a new 4MOTION all-wheel drive system and progressive steering -
World premieres of the e-up! and e-Golf
Europe's most successful car will be available from spring 2014 as the e-Golf Range of up to 1901 km, consumption of just 12.7 kWh/100 km1 and all-LED headlights as standard -
The new Golf GTD - International Press Presentation
Contains 7 sections: Powertrain, Running gear, Exterior, Interior, Features, Technologies and Overview -
New Golf GTI - International Press Presentation
Contains 7 sections: Powertrain, Running gear, Exterior, Interior, Features, Technologies and Overview -
The new Golf. Das Auto. International Driving Presentation
Contains 10 sections: Styling, Engineering, Interior, Infotainment systems, Standard and optional features, Innovations, Powertrain structure, Running gear, Retrospective, Overview -
The Golf R - International Driving Presentation, Ellmau 2010
Contains 7 sections: R Concentrate - More power, less fuel, TSI of the Golf R, All-wheel drive, Sport chassis, Exterior features, Interior features and Overview of standard equipment -
The New Golf GTD – International Driving Presentation
Contains 6 sections: GTD – Concept, GTD – Drivetrain, GTD – Handling, GTD – Exterior, GTD – Interior and GTD – Fully equipped -
Golf GTI - International Driving Presentation
Contains 7 sections: Icons of Sportiness, Design as Homage to the First GTI, GTI Phenomenon, Inception of the GTI, History, Exclusive Standard Features of the GTI, Individualized Options on the GTI
Photo albums
Photo Golf 1st - 7th Generations
Photos Golf GTI 1st - 7the Generations
Photos Golf GTD Generations
Photos Golf R Generations
Photos Golf R 32 Generations
Photos e-Golf 1st Generation
