Introduced in 1974 as the successor to the legendary Beetle, it differed from its predecessor in virtually every respect: the rounded, spherical bodywork was replaced by straight lines designed by Giorgetto Giugiario of Ital Design, and instead of an air-cooled engine in the rear, a liquid-cooled engine was installed in the front. Like the legendary Beetle, the Golf was a huge sales success. In the US, it was sold as the Volkswagen Rabbit, differing in body styling and headlight shapes. In 1984, a year after the next generation of the vehicle, the Golf II, was presented, production of the Golf I began in South Africa under the name Volkswagen Golf Citi. Production of this model continued until 2009. A total of nearly 7 million Golf Is were sold in various versions. Generations of the vehicle were introduced over time. Currently (as of February 2023), the latest generation produced by the Wolfsburg plant is the eighth. The company estimates that a total of over 35 million Golfs of various versions and generations have been sold, and the sales dynamics, mathematically speaking, indicate that on average, someone somewhere in the world decides to buy this model every 40 seconds. Volkswagen proudly states that due to the model’s popularity, the compact class segment is colloquially referred to as the “Golf Class.”
Engine: 1.1
Engine type: In-line 4
Displacement: 1093 cm3
Number of cylinders/valves: 4/8
Maximum power: 50 HP
