Next March marks 50 years since the birth of the Golf and Volkswagen celebrates this anniversary with a complete birthday update for this automotive icon. At the end of March 1974, series production of the best-seller began in Wolfsburg. The first Golf has been followed in this time by no less than 37 million copies.
Over the past 5 decades, more than 2,000 people around the world have chosen a new Golf every day. This makes this model the most successful European car and the best-selling Volkswagen of all time. Coinciding with this important anniversary, Volkswagen has presented the latest stage of the Golf’s evolution for the world premiere. With a completely new infotainment system, a fresher and more current image and a next-generation plug-in hybrid propulsion, what will be the best Golf of the last 50 years will hit the market in spring.
The visual changes are limited to a renewed front and rear along with a new design of the lights that give it a sharper and more aggressive overall presence. Among the features that visually define the new Golf are the Volkswagen logo, which illuminates for the first time on the model, and the newly designed LED headlights. The high-end IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights incorporate a new high-performance high beam with a range of up to 500 m while the 3D IQ.LIGHT LED rear lights have also received a new design.
However, it is the technology that experiences a greater leap thanks to a new infotainment system with the new integration of ChatGPT. Overall operation is more intuitive thanks to a separate touch screen (screen diagonal up to 32.8 cm). At its base it still has ergonomically optimized and illuminated touch sliders for temperature and volume control.
Also new are the improved multifunction steering wheel and the new IDA voice assistant. Using natural language, IDA can be used not only to control functions such as the air conditioning, telephone or navigation system, but also to access online information in all imaginable areas, from the weather forecast to general knowledge questions. . In this sense, the integration of the ChatGPT chatbot, based on artificial intelligence, will allow occupants to interact with the car using natural language and have the contents consulted read aloud to them while traveling.
Regarding the new range of engines, it is worth highlighting the Golf’s plug-in hybrid drives that offer greater power and an electric range of about 100 km with a total range of up to 1,000 km, and are additionally equipped with a fast charging function. DC up to 50 kW. The high-efficiency 48V mild hybrid drives are especially attractive to customers who do not have easy access to a wallbox.
In the launch phase, the mechanical offer will have a total of nine different options: mild-hybrid (eTSI), plug-in hybrid (eHybrid and GTE), turbocharged gasoline (TSI) and turbocharged diesel (TDI). At the same time, the legendary Golf GTI has become even sportier with its turbo engine power exceeding that of its predecessor by 15 kW to 195 kW (265 HP). In addition, the 2.0 TSI with 150 kW (204 HP) is also 10 kW more powerful, while throughout 2024 VW has announced that it will successively introduce other variants of the Golf, such as the Variant body, along with new versions and finishes .
Although the first Golf produced was manufactured in March 1974, the official launch began in May. Before this, the Beetle and thus the combination of a rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive had shaped the Volkswagen brand for decades. In the early 1970s, the first Golf – like the Passat, Scirocco and Polo – ushered in a new era: that of the front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive.
The concept of a modern and safe drive system, the great flexibility of the tailgate and the folding backrest of the rear seats, and the design were so convincing that the millionth Golf rolled off the assembly line in October 1976. But that It was just the beginning: in the following seven generations, it was always the Golf that made affordable mobility with the highest technological level available to everyone.
It came with technologies such as the catalyst and efficient propulsion systems, and also offered safety elements such as the anti-lock braking system, airbags or the first all-wheel drive system in the range. The secret of its success is also due to the fact that the designers transferred the DNA of the first generation to their successors, thus cultivating the classic Golf design.
Comfort, quality and innovative assistance systems gained importance with each generation and continue to set standards today. Over the last 50 years, the Golf has become a benchmark in the compact class and its category even became known as the “Golf segment” within a few years. It was followed by several equally popular derivatives such as the Variant, the Cabriolet and the Sportsvan; or the sports models, with the initials GTI, GTD, GTE, and the flagship Golf R, until reaching the fully electric e-Golf.