Known around the world under many different labels, including, Caddy, CitiGolf and Rabbit, the Volkswagen Golf and Golf GTI are true classic and iconic models within the VW brand. With the Beetle originally taking the stage as the VW mass produced car, Volkswagen were forced to develop another cheap to produce mass market car. The acquisition of Audi into the company greatly increase the experience and knowledge of designing and building front engine cars. This, and the design of the new mass car being penned by the great and well respected designer Giorgio Giugiaro, meant that the Golf was set up for great success. Once the designs for the new small and affordable car were made by Giugiaro he had come up with a hatchback powered by a front wheel drive Audi GT engine. This design is now commonly known due to the huge popularity of the Volkswagen which was designed, the MKI Golf. Production of the car was started and mass produced in the German Wolfsburg car plant, where 1.1 litre and 1.6 lire variations were made to serve the mass market. There was also the option of two or four door Golfs, and the variations were received with great and well welcomed reviews. Building on the huge success of the MKI, VW released the GTI, a pioneer of the hot hatch market. Further cosmetic changes were made the MKI, with a front apron added to the car, and the newly added fuel injection also increasing the power of the GTI. The new design choice was popular and maintained its place on further Golf variations. The increase in power with the addition of vented front disc brakes, racing seats and lowering meant the Golf GTI was the number on hot hatch, with sales of the new iconic car rocketing as fast as the car. To further refine the car the Golf received some further alterations in the early eighties, which also saw the introduction of a new variation, the VW Golf cabriolet. Volkswagen choose to introduce a cabriolet under the Golf brand due to the massive success it had received, therefore instantly boosting the cabriolet chances of success. The convertible was a great success and its sales continued therefore resulting in a relatively success production run. The MKII Golf was released in 84, and the large range of variations was a direct statement of Volkswagens intention of dominating a larger market share, with a 1.6 litres model to a four wheel drive available. Although the massive increase in variations in the market, the MKII GTI did not do as well, with VW possibly loosing its focus on why the GTI was successful in the first place. The VW Golf continued to perform very well in the marketplace, with the MKIII Golfs regaining some of the lost respect due to the GTI MKII. The Golf remains an iconic hatchback, with the MKI Golf GTI labelled by many as the original hot hatchback.
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