It’s endgame for the VW Golf
Volkswagen has built the last Golf bound for the United States at its Puebla, Mexico plant. When that final 2021 model is sold, no more will follow. After over 45 years the Golf has reached its endgame–at least when it comes to the base models.
The good news is that VW has confirmed the hot Golf 8 GTI and R will be sold later in 2021 as 2022 models. U.S. bound models will come direct from VW’s home at the massive Wolfsburg factory so fast Golf fans can still get their fix.
The 2022 GTI offers drivers 241 hp and the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed DSG sending power to the front wheels. The all-wheel-drive Golf R ups the ante to 315 hp and is DSG-only. Both models are five-door hatchbacks.
The Golf’s story in America began in 1974 when the first generation arrived badged as the Rabbit. With gas prices soaring, the economical little VW that replaced the much-loved Beetle was quickly embraced by the public. In fact the car was so popular VW opened its first factory in the U.S.A. to build it in 1978. Five years later the first Golf GTI arrived Stateside and, to coincide with the introduction of the MkII model in 1985 the Golf name crossed the Atlantic as well.
Sales of the Golf peaked in 2017 with 69,000 cars sold in the U.S. but soon plummeted as buyers shifted to crossovers. In 2020 just 22,000 Golfs reached new owners, so VW’s decision was made by the market.
