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6월 22, 2026

1974, Volkswagen Golf, a city car that will be around for a long time

1974, Volkswagen Golf, a city car that will be around for a long time From its launch, the Golf presented itself as the best successor to the Beetle. Hastily assembled…

1974, Volkswagen Golf, a city car that will be around for a long time

From its launch, the Golf presented itself as the best successor to the Beetle. Hastily assembled from a recently acquired brand, the model achieved worldwide acclaim. With the GTI version, Volkswagen was propelled significantly forward.

Creation history

During the 1970s, the “hippie” craze was in full swing, fueled by the Beetle. By the end of the decade, the Beetle was showing its age, and the idea of replacing it was circulating at Volkswagen. Management wanted to move on from the Beetle. The era of small, rear-engined, front-wheel-drive hatchbacks was over. They envisioned a new, fuel-efficient, front-wheel-drive hatchback. The Germans, already lagging behind the French with the Renault 5, had been working on this niche. They were about to catch up with the French in one fell swoop. In 1970, VW acquired NSU, a brand that had already left a model in development. VW hastily changed its logo on the grille to announce the arrival of the first front-wheel-drive VW. And it was an undeniable success. The modern lines were designed by Giugiaro, the details were refined, and the mechanics were very robust.

LE MOTEUR

The engine ranges from 3 to 6 cylinders, with a displacement of 1,000 to 3,200 cc and producing 85 to 300 horsepower. The car can reach a top speed of 140 to 250 km/h. It has a 4-speed gearbox, and the new car is available in 3-door or 5-door versions, like the Renault 5.

A STAR IS BORN

Sales took off quickly, and the factory was able to run at full capacity. Even better, in 1975, Volkswagen unveiled another model, a sporty version of the original Golf. This was the Golf GTI, and with this model, recognizable by a red stripe around the grille, the company made driving sporty cars more popular and accessible.

A LONG LINE OF DESCENDANTS

By October 1976, the one million mark for sales had been surpassed. A convertible and a pickup truck were added to the lineup. Today, 32 million units of the iconic Golf have been sold. Despite these recent setbacks, especially in America, the brand continues to fill the streets and be driven by everyone: young people, executives, businesspeople.

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