This week, VW’s plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, built the 30 millionth Golf, about 39 years after production of the original Golf began in early 1974. Volkswagen’s most successful European car ever, the Golf has been sold in over 2,000 units every day over the past 39 years.
The milestone car is a Golf TDI BlueMotion, a recently introduced model that boasts a fuel consumption of just 3.2 liters/100 km (73.5 US mpg), making it the most economical Golf ever built. The vehicle will be officially on display for employees of the Wolfsburg plant on Saturday at the plant’s “open house day”.
On the occasion of the production of the 30 millionth Golf, VW Chairman Martin Winterkorn also accepted the “Car of the Year 2013” award for the Golf.
“The history of the Golf is also the history of automotive progress. With technologies such as the safe front-wheel drive of the first Golf, the debut of the TDI in the third Golf, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and the dual clutch gearbox of the fourth Golf and the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System of the new generation, this car has continued to democratise progress,” Winterkorn said.’
Here’s a brief history of the seven Golf generations.
VW Golf I – 1974 to 1983
The transition from the Beetle to the Golf was revolutionary. A new vehicle layout was created with the conversion from an air-cooled rear engine to a water-cooled front engine and from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive. The style also changed dramatically, with the boxy design penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro replacing the round shapes of the Beetle.
VW Golf II – 1983 to 1991
Design-wise, the second-generation Golf was an evolution of its predecessor, but technically, the car introduced new system like the controlled catalytic converter (1984), ABS (1986) and all-wheel drive (1986). All generations following the Mk2 have followed its evolutionary design philosophy, setting the foundation for continuous development of the model series.
VW Golf III – 1991 to 1997
A new era of safety began with the introduction of the third-generation Golf in 1991. It was the first Golf to offer front airbags (1992) and great progress in the area of body manufacturing led to improvements in crash properties. The first TDI engine of the series was also introduced on the Mk3.
VW Golf IV – 1997 to 2003
Styled under the supervision of the Hartmut Warkuß, the fourth-generation Golf brought a precise styling that paved the way for the future of VW. Considered a pioneer for the series by experts, the Mk4 also introduced new technologies such as ESC (1998) and the dual clutch gearbox (2002).
VW Golf V – 2003 to 2008
A further evolution of the species, the fifth-generation Golf had a laser-welded body that increased torsional rigidity by 35 percent. It also brought the first Golf BlueMotion model in 2007, which had an average fuel consumption of 4.5 liters/100 km (52.3 US mpg).
VW Golf VI – 2008 to 2012
The sixth-generation Golf was strongly based on the Mk5, leading many analysts to say that it was more of an extensive facelift than an all-new model. However, the Golf VI’s highlights included a maximum five star rating at the EuroNCAP crash tests, the triumph of the TSI engines and conversion of the turbodiesels to the common rail system. The second Golf BlueMotion further improved fuel economy, reaching 3.8 liters/100 km (61.9 US mpg) in the Mk6.
VW Golf VII – 2012 to present
The current generation Golf introduced an all-new modular architecture which helped it shed up to 100 kg (220.5 lbs) of weight. Consequently, fuel consumption dropped by as much as 23 percent compared to the previous model, depending on the engine – with the Golf TDI BlueMotion being the most economical Golf ever. It is also the most technologically complex Golf ever made, boasting an array of assistance systems including PreCrash preventive occupant protection and the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.
By Dan Mihalascu
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