Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 reincarnated – presenting the Volkswagen CitiGolf 1.8iR!
Proton is not the only car company in the world producing a quasi-modernised 1980s car and selling it in the current times! This other company is making something alot more iconic though… for Volkswagen Golf Mk1 lovers, you can actually buy a brand new Volkswagen Golf Mk1 in South Africa! It’s not completely the same as the original though, recent facelifts have given it slightly different bumpers and a more sloping grille, as well as a completely modernized interior that looks like something pulled from a Volkswagen Fox or Skoda Fabia. It’s called the Volkswagen CitiGolf.
Volkswagen South Africa has sold about 341,000 Volkswagen CitiGolfs since 1984, and it sold 29,000 units in 2006! There is even an upcoming Volkswagen CitiGolf 1.8iR in the works, powered by a 120 horsepower 1.8 liter fuel injected engine. The current fuel injected Volkswagen CitiGolf 1.6i “VeloCiTi” already outperforms the old Golf GTI Mk1. There was previously a Volkswagen CitiGolf CTi with a 1.8 liter carburetted engine too.
So yeah, seriously, if you really have the money and you’re a huge fan of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1, it might be worthwhile to try to get one of these imported in. They’re made in right hand drive configuration only so they are perfect for our local usage. Of course, with the chassis being of such an old design, do not expect it to be safe or conform to modern crash test standards. It won’t exactly be safe… what it will be, is fun.
More photos and videos after the jump.
Video: Volkswagen CitiGolf – Aircraft Carrier
Video: Volkswagen CitiGolf – Basketball
Video: Volkswagen CitiGolf – Change
Video: Volkswagen CitiGolf – Garfield
Video: Volkswagen CitiGolf – Quality Control
Video: Volkswagen CitiGolf – Tattoo
March 3, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
i always dream of mark 1, in convertable, its the most beautiful covertable for my standard, caaaant belive vw reincarnate this, so suprised
but what i do love the most vw is its old beetle ,so frustrated when they ceased its production not long ago in brazil/ or mexico,,brazil i belive, just love the old beetle with curved front wind screen, coil spring suspension, more injected engine,(the vw 1303 or 1600) but cant really got it of course.. ends up with flat wind. screen 69 beetle, years ago ,anyway sold it …
i like to see vw consder the copy of original old beetle again. with modern engine and suspension, and safety features,
March 3, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
The interior actually looks better quality than Proton’s!
March 3, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
i like the 2nd and the last video clip. the car is certainly great for everyday use to go to work while having a S15 as a weekend ride. yeah…..
March 3, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
old but the interior is better than saga LOL
March 3, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
the other side of the story,,clear the dust of the old stamping machine and put into use
(jimat), but this ageing design not as body rigid as its modern brother i belive,… lighter and utilitarian, ……kesian south african,
March 3, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
Well, cos it’s south africa… like Malaysians getting the 20 year old Saga… at least this Golf’s interior has better build and it comes with Cd player.. and comes with newer engines.. unlike Saga.. cassete player.. still in the 80s.. and still the super old engine.. duh… automakers seems know how to make big money using old stamping machines eh…
March 3, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
common Paul, wat VW produced, was an icon. What Proton did was utter rubbish.
Anyway, i do really hope Proton could re-launch the Satria GTi (the one based on Mitsu Cyborg) and had an updated interior, better engine perhaps 185hp, and perhaps RWD, or Turbo charged …. haha too greedy thou…
March 3, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
classic , luv this car…really popular in uk….as far as i know , the VW beetle are stil being prduced in mexico as taxis…..bt i seriously luv this mk1 , looks old bt so charming….
March 3, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
btw doesnt the center console looks
ALOT like the current satria neo…????
March 3, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
classical but nice interior… at least this classical car has a CD player in it…
March 4, 2007 @ 10:39 am
This is a horrible looking car plus it’s an old design. You can’t pay me to sit in the car.
March 4, 2007 @ 11:18 am
I can say any VW cars quality control is more better then any Proton new car… My father is still using the old VW beetle 1971 until now. And the old air cooled caburatted boxer 1.6L engine still running well until today.. Is already over 35 years and i think even Proton Saga are hard to last until 30 years… And i think the P1 engine already overhauled a few dozen times lolz…
March 4, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
damn… interior looks like savvy+neo to me… maybe this is what they get from the partnership with proton i guess??
March 4, 2007 @ 9:38 pm
Wah! Monster in disguise! An idiotic tailgater won’t know what hit them later…
March 5, 2007 @ 10:25 am
if vw malaysia were to import this from SA, remember, its not gonna be as cheap as p1 cars due to our monstrous import duty and taxes, how much would you pay for the normal 1.6 VeloCiTi and the 1.8R? i feel it’ll be around 50k – 55k when considering the naza bestari in comparison (which is a newer but local assembled car but also superseded model). imho, it shouldn’t touch 58k as this car’s development cost is probably paid up years ago already… much like the saga.
March 5, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Maybe soon P1 wants to come out with a Saga Citi. LOL, forgot the iswara is still running on the road
March 5, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
protong merdeka special 20 years……RM26.999………….
August 10, 2009 @ 4:13 am
could any one out there let me know the retail price of a new mk1 golf 1.8 in south africa thanks.
September 6, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
When was last of 120bhp ones made? Were they ever available in diesel version
Please advise
Can’t get vw.za site here in Uk
regards
October 28, 2009 @ 9:13 pm
The 1.8 has been pulled of the market, but the 1.4 and 1.6 is between R90 000 and R110 000. http://www.vw.co.za You can check out the new ones on the website