The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across seven generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada (Mk1 and Mk5), and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico (Mk1).
The original Golf Mk1, designed by the Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro, was a front-wheel drive, front-engined replacement for the air-cooled, rear-engined, rear-wheel drive Volkswagen Beetle. Historically, the Golf is Volkswagen's best-selling model and the world's second best-selling model, with more than 29 million built by 2012.
Most production of the Golf was initially in the 3-door hatchback style. Other variants include a 5-door hatchback, estate/wagon (Variant, from 1993), convertible (Cabriolet and Cabrio, 1979–2002), and a Golf-derived notchback saloon/sedan, variously called Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Vento or Volkswagen Bora (from 1999). The cars have filled many market segments, from basic personal cars, to high-performance hot hatches.
Every generation of Golf has been a runner-up in the European Car of the Year awards, but only one has been a winner, the Golf Mk3 in 1992.
Read more about Volkswagen Golf: Etymology, First Generation (A1/Typ 17, 1974–1983), Second Generation (A2/Typ 19E, 1983–1992), Third Generation (A3/Typ 1H, 1993–1999), Fourth Generation (A4/Typ 1J, 1997–2003), Fifth Generation (A5/Typ 1K, 2003–2008), Sixth Generation (A6/Typ 5K, 2008–2012), Seventh Generation (A7/Typ 5G, 2013–), Electric Versions, Motorsport, Awards and Recognition
Famous quotes containing the word golf:
“emerald as heavy
as a golf course, ruby as dark
as an afterbirth,
diamond as white as sun
on the sea ...”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)