Officially there has never been any numbering by Volkswagen of the Golf generations, so no Golf Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, Mk4, Mk5, Mk6 or Mk7. With now seven generations of the car it is, however, easier to place them historically if that numbering system now ‘officially' enters into the Golf's history via this press kit. The fact is that with exactly 29.13 million units sold since 1974 – as of 31st July 2012 –, the Volkswagen Golf, including its derivatives such as the Cabriolet and the Estate, is one of the most successful motorcars ever sold in the world.
Golf I – 1974 to 1983
The first full-production Golf rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg in March 1974 and was in Volkswagen dealerships that May. In those showrooms, 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. This trend had been heralded a short time earlier by the Scirocco and – as the first Volkswagen front-wheel drive car, based on the K70 taken over from NSU – the Passat, introduced in 1973. With the launch of the Golf, the highest volume vehicle category had now also been switched over to the new technology.
As the successor to the legendary Beetle, of which over 21.5 million units were made, the Golf Mk1 designed by Giorgio Giugiaro had to live up to the great expectations that it would carry on the success story of what until then was the world's most successful car. In the spring of 1974, nobody could really be sure that this would indeed be achieved. However, the modern and reliable drive system, the spacious internal layout with a tailgate and fold-down rear seat, 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.
At that time, Volkswagen wrote this about the new car: "The Golf offers maximum luggage space and safety. It is laid out uncompromisingly for practical use. The low beltline provides clarity, the sloping bonnet allows a clear view of the road right up to just in front of the car and the low rear window makes reversing easy." And those comments still ring true today.
Like every Golf that would appear after it, the first generation too reflected the progress and automotive trends of its era. For example, in launching the first Golf GTI (in 1976) Volkswagen heralded the introduction of greater dynamism in this class, while the Golf D (naturally aspirated diesel engine, 1976) and the later Golf GTD (turbodiesel, 1982) marked the breakthrough for diesel cars in the compact segment. In 1979, with the Golf Cabriolet – at times the world's best-selling open-top car – Volkswagen brought a breath of fresh air into a vehicle category that by that time had long been simply called the ‘Golf class'. 6.72 million units of the first generation Golf, including all derivatives such as the Cabriolet and the Jetta (at that time based on the same body), were sold across every continent of the globe – the Golf had proved itself a worthy successor to the Beetle.
Golf II – 1983 to 1991
It was the second generation olf that was the Volkswagen in which the generation of baby-boomers, now around 50 years of age, learned to drive: While its predecessor had already become a favourite of all driving instructors and learner drivers, the second Golf had now become firmly established in their minds as their permanent number one choice. As of August 1983, they no longer sat quite so close to each other, as that year's press kit pointed out: "The wheelbase is now 75 mm longer, while the track width at the front has been increased by 23 mm and at the rear by 50 mm. Total length has increased by 170 mm (now 3.99 m) and the width by 55 mm (now 1.42 m)… The level of comfort, as measured by the distance from the accelerator pedal and rear seatback, has increased by 37 mm to 1,837 mm, while elbow room in the front is now 92 mm wider and in the rear seating area it has increased by 112 mm. On the four-door model the increase is even 120 mm."
It was the Golf that introduced the regulated catalytic converter (1984), anti-lock braking system (ABS, 1986) and power-steering to the Golf class and which offered an all-wheel drive system for the first time (Syncro, 1986). And as far back as 1989 – some 23 years ago – Volkswagen was already unveiling a prototype of this Golf with an electric motor and another with a hybrid drive system. In June 1988, 14 years after its debut, the Golf had also surpassed the magical production milestone of 10 million units. In 1991, after 6.41 million of its kind had been sold, the Golf Mk2 was retired to make room for the successor.
Golf Mk3 – 1991 to 1997
With the launch of the third generation of the Golf in August 1991, Volkswagen heralded a new era of safety. The Golf Mk3 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. Looking back, it can be said that with this Golf Volkswagen truly democratised passive safety, as the improved protection benefited millions of car drivers all over the globe.
However, there are also numerous other Golf milestones associated with the Mk3. Many new features made their debuts in this new Golf: the first six cylinder engine (VR6), the legendary Ecomatic transmission, cruise control, the first oxidation catalytic converter for diesel engines (1991), the first direct injection diesel engines (TDI in 1993 and SDI in 1995) and the first side airbags (1996). Also, ABS became a standard feature on all Golf models in September 1996. In 1993, Volkswagen had also introduced a new cabriolet based on the Golf Mk3, a new all-wheel drive model (Syncro II) and the first Golf Variant (an estate). A year later, in May 1994, Volkswagen celebrated production of the 15-millionth Golf. In 1997, after production of 4.96 million of the cars, the third generation came to the end of the line.
Golf Mk4 – 1997 to 2003
Under the direction of Harmut Warkuß, then Head of Design at Volkswagen (Group), the Mk4 crystallised 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. It is in this era that the Volkswagen design DNA has its origins. Today, design experts regard the Golf Mk4 as a style icon and a pioneering step for the model – not least because despite all its clarity and characteristic C-pillar design it still forged a link back to the Golf Mk1 of 1974.
However, the Golf Mk4 was not only pioneering in terms of its looks, it was groundbreaking in its engineering as well. With this car Volkswagen achieved a totally new standard of quality in this market segment and thus became the first manufacturer to overcome vehicle class boundaries. With the debut of ESC (in 1998) and the brake assistant system, the car continued to democratise safety. Also in 1998, Volkswagen unveiled the first all-wheel drive Golf with a Haldex clutch – the Golf 4MOTION. One year later, ESC became a standard feature, initially in Germany. In the same year, the first Golf with six-speed transmission made its debut. There then followed in 2001 the Golf GTI 132 kW (launched to mark the GTI's 25th anniversary and now already sought-after as a classic) and in 2002 the first Golf with petrol direct injection (FSI) and the debut of head (window) airbags fitted as standard. Also in 2002, Volkswagen launched what at the time was the sportiest Golf ever: the R32, with a top speed of 250 km/h. It was this top model that in 2003 was the first ever to be available with the revolutionarily fast and fuel-efficient dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) the automatic transmission for a new era. In the same year, after production of 4.92 million units, the Golf Mk4 – the first fully galvanised Golf and the first available with a navigation system and xenon headlights – made way on the production lines for the Golf Mk5.
Golf Mk5 – 2003 to 2008
This was the Golf that boasted levels of comfort and dynamic performance that left many a competitor in its class way behind. The same went for the car's quality. One parameter that was indicative of the strength of the laser-welded bodywork was the 35 per cent increase in torsion rigidity of the Golf Mk5, which made its debut in 2003. The Golf was now also available for the first time with optional side airbags in the rear seating area – together with the six standard airbags (front, side front and head airbags) there were thus eight protective air buffers on board.
In terms of comfort as well as dynamic performance and handling, the Golf Mk5 scored in numerous areas, including: its new four-link rear suspension and new seven-speed DSG, bi-xenon headlights, rain sensor and panoramic sliding sunroof, plus the debut of the first turbocharged direct injection petrol engine in the Golf GTI (in 2004) and the world's first twincharger (in the 2006 TSI), combining turbo and superchargers. At the same time, new vehicle body versions also made the Golf attractive to a wider range of drivers. The Golf Plus was launched in 2006, and the year 2007 saw the launches of the CrossGolf, a new Estate, and the Golf BlueMotion, which set a new benchmark with its combined fuel consumption of just 4.5 l/100 km. By the time the Golf Mk6 was unveiled in 2008, over 3.27 million units had been produced of the Golf Mk5 in all of its versions.
Golf Mk6 – 2008 to 2012
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. And once again safety made great advances too: the car body, again laser-welded, was so rugged that it passed the EuroNCAP crash test with flying colours, gaining the maximum five stars. There was now also a further airbag fitted as standard: the driver's knee airbag.
In terms of its quality, the Golf Mk6's interior in particular ranked as ahead of its time. Meanwhile, more TSI engines and a transition among the turbodiesel engines (TDI) from unit injection to the common rail system produced greater dynamic performance and lower fuel consumption. A top performer was the second 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 Light Assist automatic main beam management, Park Assist, hill start assistant and technologies such as DCC dynamic chassis control - made the ‘World Car of the Year 2009' the most advanced Golf to date. Also available were features such as the Stop/Start system and battery regeneration mode, dynamic cornering lights and LED rear light clusters. Even if the Golf Mk6 has now been topped by the Mk7, its outstanding product features and superb design will ensure that the sixth generation Golf – as a used car too – will continue to be regarded as one of the most successful cars on the market for many a year to come.
Notes:
TDI, TSI, DSG and Twincharger are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG or other companies of the Volkswagen Group in Germany and other countries.
Features and technical data apply to models offered in Germany. They may differ in other countries. All fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions data cited in this press kit refer to official vehicle registration values (combined values), which were determined under standard conditions in the NEDC cycle. Fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions values for the Golf 1.4 TSI with ACT (103 kW / 140 PS) and the Golf BlueMotion 1.6 TDI (81 kW / 110 PS) are forecast values as of September 2012.