Volkswagen and the Seven Golfs: A Brief History of a 38-Year Old Icon

If there is one car that can be compared to the Porsche 911 for using the same recipe for close to four decades, it is the Volkswagen Golf.

In a way, this is ironic since the 911 was derided by its detractors as a “posh Beetle” while recently, the VW Group, which has a long history with Porsche, acquired the Stuttgart sports car maker.

One could not imagine two cars more different than each other as one is a 2+2 sports car with rear- or all-wheel drive and flat-six engines hung out behind the rear axle, while the other is a mass-market compact hatchback with the engine up front driving the front- or all four-wheels.

Nevertheless, despite the changes that come with each generation, the two models have one thing in common: they have adopted the path of careful evolution, not revolution, defining their respective segments and being the default buyers’ choice and the standard against which all newcomers are measured.

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Classics , New Cars , Reports , VW , VW Golf , VW Golf GTI

Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin Jr. Race it Out in 2013 Ford Focus ST and VW Golf GTI

For the third round of Ford's "Focus ST Sessions" web series, the Blue Oval called in professional rally driver Ken Block and Team Mustang drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. to compare the brand's new hot hatch against the current iteration of the car that gave birth to the category, the VW Golf GTI.

After winning a game of rock, paper, and scissors, Ken Block chose the 252hp Focus ST leaving Vaughn Gittin Jr. with the 200hp Golf GTI Mk6.

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commercials , Ford , Ford Focus , Ford Videos , Racing , Video , VW Golf , VW Golf GTI , VW Videos

Spy Shots: 2013 Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet Breaks Cover Without Any Camo

The last time we saw Volkswagen engineers testing the Golf R Cabriolet, they were trying out a prototype that used the GTI's body.

Now, our man with the long lens snagged a prototype wearing its production-ready body complete with the distinctive "R" style front bumper and alloy wheels, and even the "R" logos on the front grille and the lower part of the trunk.

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Paris Auto Show , Scoops , VW , VW Golf , VW Golf GTI , VW Scoops

Scoop: 2014 Volkswagen Golf R Prototype Makes its First Appearance

With all the commotion and news going around about the regular versions of the seventh generation of the Volkswagen Golf that will premiere at the Paris Motor Show next month, it's easy to forget that the Germans are also working on several other variants including a flagship sports model with the 'R' moniker.

Our spies didn't forget and kept a lookout for any suspicious looking Golf prototypes. Their diligence paid off this week as they snagged the first photos of a Golf R prototype while testing in Europe.

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Scoops , VW , VW Golf , VW Golf GTI , VW Scoops

VW Shares First Details About the New 2013 Golf Mk7 Hatchback, will Show GTI Concept in Paris

Evidently, like Greenpeace, VW just can't wait to tell the world about its all-new Golf hatchback as prior to the car's media reveal at Berlin's museum of modern art on September 4 and its public debut at the Paris Motor Show later in the month, the German company decided to share some details with journalists this week.

While no photos were released, VW outlined the highlights of the seventh generation of the Golf hatchback that will go on sale in Europe this November with the rest of the world to follow shortly after.

As we have mentioned many times in the past, the Golf VII is based on the VW Group's brand new MQB platform shared with the also new 2013 Audi A3 and Seat Leon.

The new Golf measures 4,255mm (167.5-inches) in length, 1799mm (70.8-inches) in width and 1452mm (57.2-inches) in height, making it 56mm (2.2-in.) longer and 13mm (0.5-in.) wider but also 28mm (1.1-in.) lower than the current model. It also rides on a 59mm (2.3-in) longer wheelbase and wider front (8mm / 0.3-in.) and rear (6mm / 0.2-in) tracks.

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Concepts , New Cars , Paris Auto Show , VW , VW Concepts , VW Golf , VW Golf GTI