- 24 October 2019: 8 days to go to the world premiere of the eighth Golf generation
- Second Golf generation sets new technical benchmarks in the compact vehicle class
- Catalytic converter and ABS celebrate their breakthrough in the Golf Mk II
Archive
Golf Mk II built between 1983 and 1991.
Countdown to the new Golf:
Golf Mk II – a perfected concept
In 1983 Volkswagen launched the second Golf generation on the market. It was in this vehicle that the “Golf generation”, as German best-selling author Florian Illies coined the vehicle’s contemporaries, learnt to drive. The fact of the matter is that this Golf also became a worldwide success: by the time it was phased out in 1991, Volkswagen had produced 6.3 million Golf Mk II.
“Generation Golf” now definitely had more space in the Golf. Quote from the 1983 press folder: “The overall length has increased by 170 mm (3.99 m) and the vehicle has become 55 mm wider (1.42 m).” Even though the new Golf generation had become considerably larger, Volkswagen was able to significantly improve the vehicle’s aerodynamics: the Cd value dropped from 0.42 to 0.34.
It is also a fact that the Golf Mk II set new technical benchmarks in the compact vehicle class. This vehicle generation saw the introduction of the catalytic converter (1984), anti-lock braking system (ABS, 1986) and power steering. The Golf was also available with all-wheel drive for the very first time (syncro, 1986). Additionally, the engine in the GTI was the first Golf engine with four-valve technology (1986).
1988 saw the sporty highlight of the series be released as the Rallye Golf G60, generating 160 PS and featuring a G-Lader supercharger. In that same year Golf production hit the 10 million mark: a tremendously high figure. In 1990 the all-wheel drive Golf Country also gave us the first taste of modern sport utility vehicles (SUV). From 1991 the Golf Mk II was not only assembled in Wolfsburg, but also at the new Mosel plant near Zwickau (Saxony).
Golf Mk II annual figures
1983: Debut of the second Golf generation
1984: First Golf with catalytic converter
Debut of the second Golf GTI generation
1985: 7,000,000th Golf in March
1986: First Golf (GTI) featuring four-valve petrol engine
First Golf syncro with viscous coupling (all-wheel drive)
Golf syncro as first Golf with ABS from August
1987: ABS available for all GT and GTI models
Catalytic converter also available for smaller engines
Facelift
Golf GT syncro becomes first model with ABS as standard
1988: Debut of the Rallye Golf G60
Debut of the Golf Limited G60
10,000,000th Golf in June
1989: 11,000,000th Golf in October
Debut of the Golf City Stromer and Golf Hybrid
1990: all Golf models with petrol engines feature a catalytic converter from February
Debut of the Golf Country
1,000,000th Golf GTI in November
12,000,000th Golf in November
1991: First Golf produced at Mosel plant near Zwickau in March
Second generation phased out in Western Europe after
6.3 million units had been produced
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