Volkswagen Gol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Volkswagen Gol | |
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| Manufacturer | Volkswagen |
| Production | 1980-present |
| Class | Subcompact car |
| Layout | FF layout |
| First generation (Mk. I) | |
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| Also called | Volkswagen Parati Volkswagen Pointer Volkswagen Fox |
| Production | 1980-1997 |
| Body style(s) | 3-door hatchback 2-door sedan 3-door station wagon 2-door pickup truck |
| Wheelbase | 2358 mm (92.8 in) |
| Length | Hatchback: 3810 mm (150 in) Coupe / Sedan / Station wagon: 4150 mm (163.4 in) Pickup: 4060 mm (159.8 in) |
| Width | Hatchback / sedan / Coupe: 1600 mm (63 in) Station wagon / pickup: 1622 mm (63.9 in) |
| Height | Hatchback / sedan: 1363 mm (53.7 in) Station wagon / pickup: 1385 mm (54.5 in) |
| Second generation (Mk. II) | |
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| Also called | Volkswagen Pointer |
| Production | 1994-2008 |
| Body style(s) | 3 and 5-door hatchback 3 and 5-door station wagon 2-door pickup truck |
| Wheelbase | Hatchback / station wagon: 2470 mm (97.2 in) Pickup: 2600 mm (102.4 in) |
| Length | Hatchback: 3930 mm (154.7 in) Station wagon: 4190 mm (165 in) Pickup: 4450 mm (175.2 in) |
| Width | 1640 mm (64.6 in) |
| Height | 1420 mm (56 in) |
- Not to be confused with Volkswagen Golf.
The Volkswagen Gol is a low cost subcompact car designed in Brazil and sold by German automaker Volkswagen since 1980. It is Volkswagen's entry-level car in the South American market, beneath the other superminis, the Fox and Polo. It has uninterruptedly been the best-selling car in Brazil since 1987, and since 1998 in Argentina. Gol sales in South America are also high; over 5 million Gols have been produced since 1980. Gol has also been produced in Iran under the same name.
The Gol, which takes its name from the Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish word for "goal" (In European Portuguese, the word for "goal" is golo). In Persian Gol means "flower."
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[edit] Body styles
The Gol family comprises many body styles:
- A hatchback which takes the name VW Gol in most countries; in Mexico and Russia it has been called the VW Pointer. The first-generation Gol was offered only as a three-door; a five-door version was added in 1997.
- A sedan produced only for the Gol I. The Brazilian-built two-door and four-doors sedans were called the VW Voyage and Argentinian-built ones VW Gacel; the nameplate VW Fox was used in the United States and Canada. After a facelift in 1991, Argentinian-built models were renamed the VW Senda.
- VW Parati, a station wagon built on both generations since May 1982. The Parati I was a three-door sold in North America as the Fox Wagon. The second-generation Parati is sold in Argentina as the Gol Country. A five-door version was added in 1997 and the three-door version was dropped after the first facelift. It is named after Paraty, a city on the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro state.
- VW Saveiro, a lightweight pickup truck. All Gol generations have been sold with this body, and was introduced to the market in September 1984. It is named after a traditional Brazilian fishing boat.
- VW Furgão, a lightweight panel van based on the Gol.
[edit] First generation Gol (1980-1994)
The Gol was released in 1980 to replace the Brasilia, which was in turn a replacement to the Beetle in the Brazilian market. Based on its own unique BX platform, with a design specific to Latin America, the Gol featured the 1.3-liter air-cooled, Boxer engine from the Beetle, but front-mounted. A 1.6-litre engine was added later. In the mid 1980s, this engine was replaced by 1.6 and 1.8-litre water-cooled gasoline engines from the Passat. A 1.6-litre Diesel engine was made only for export (Diesel engines are not allowed to cars in Brazil).
The first generation had two mild facelifts in 1987 and 1991. The 1988 Gol GTi was the first Brazilian-built car to use fuel injection. The 2.0-liter engine was the same used by the Santana.
[edit] Sports versions
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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (February 2007) |
- GT 1.8 (1984-86)
The Gol GT 1.8 was the BX family's first sports version and an answer to the Ford Escort XR3, a succesfull sports car in brazilian market. With a 1.8 liter engine borrowed from Santana (MkII Passat), the Gol GT was much faster than the Escort XR3, but externally didn't have the same beauty. First series still had 4-speed gearbox, soon changed to a 5-speed one (both manual).
- GTS 1.8 (1987-1994)
Successor of Gol GT, the GTS had an updated design, following the new 87 BX line up style and also featuring new accessories that were not available before, such as rear spoiler and side skirts. The 1.8 liter engine produced 94hp running on gasoline or 99hp running on ethanol. The GTS was a very succefull model and was kept in production alongside with the upcoming GTI.
- GTI 2000 (1989-1994)
Known as the first brazilian built car equiped with electronic fuel injection, the Gol GTI featured a larger 2.0 liter engine with power of 125hp running on gasoline. Also this engine was borrowed from Santana, despite that this model still used carburettors.
[edit] Second generation Gol (1994-1999, 1999-2005 facelift, 2005-2008 facelift)
The Project AB9, otherwise known as second generation (or Generation 2) Gol, debuted in September 1994, was very different from the earlier model, with an updated body and larger wheelbase than the 1980 original. Nicknamed "Gol Bola" (roughly "Rounded Gol" or "Bubble Gol"), the car was an answer to the then newly released Chevrolet Corsa.
[edit] Facelift x2
Second Generation Gol has received two facelifts which include cosmetic and engine upgrades.
The first upgrade was in 1999, Generation 3 as the Brazilian's coined it had a new VW face similar to the Jetta/Bora IV. G3 came with optional airbags and ABS brakes.
When the 2005 (Generation 4) Gol was released with styling cues from the Volkswagen Fox which incorporated the V Grill, most avid automotive enthusiasts were unimpressed with the leap backwards in interior design.
[edit] Gol Turbo - Hot Hatch
The Gol 1.0 16V Turbo, launched in 2000 with a 112 hp 1.0-litre turbocharged gasoline engine, was the first one of its kind in South America, as it was the flexible fuel vehicle Gol Total Flex, available since 2003.
[edit] Gol outside of Brazil
- As a result of a joint-venture with Kerman Khodro, the Gol has been built in Iran since 2003.
- It is currently sold in Mexico as the Volkswagen Pointer, a name previously used in Latin America for a rebadged model based on the Ford Escort.
- Gol G3 was briefly sold in Russia in 2005 as the Pointer, but the sales were soon discontinued due to low demand.
- Gol G3 is also currently made and sold by Shanghai Volkswagen in China.
- It is currently sold in Egypt as the Volkswagen Pointer
[edit] In Brazil
As of 2006, multiple generation overlapping (which occurred in previous years) has been dropped from production.
Volkswagen currently sells four versions, "City", "Plus" "Special" and "Power", with increasing price and build quality.
Still, it is placed as an entry-level below the other two Volkswagen superminis, the Fox and Polo.
[edit] Third generation Gol NF (2009-)
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This article contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future automobile. It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the vehicle. |
The Gol Mk 4 is expected to last for one more year, as an all-new Gol is to be built in 2008.
The new model, codenamed Gol NF for Nachfolger or Neue Familie (German terms for "successor" and "new family" respectively), may be sold in Eastern Europe as a Škoda Auto to compete with the Dacia Logan and future low cost Chinese entries. NF is also named because of variety of applications on its name. It could be New Family in almost any language. e.g. Nova Família in portuguese, Nueva Familia in spanish, Nuova Famiglia in italian. The name NF leads a rumor that new kinds of Gol is yet to arrive on stores, like the resurrection of its sedan class Voyage (the old Volkswagen Fox in U.S. territory), and a new truck version different from the current Volkswagen Saveiro. There's also a rumor of a new version called Volkswagen Luna, but it could be a different name for the sedan version.
[edit] Gol NF Engine Rumors
[1] Petrol engines will be available as tetrafuel (they work with gasoline, ethanol, mixtures of them and natural gas), with 1.0-litre and 1.4-litre as probable displacements, while the 70 hp or 80 hp 1.4-litre TDI would be the only Diesel engine.
[edit] Gol NF Variant Rumors
Besides the three and five door hatchback and pickup versions (Saveiro), a sedan and a panel van would be added to the range to replace the outdated Polo Classic and Caddy Type 9K.
The wagon (Parati in Brazil, Gol Country in Argentina) might not be built anymore, since current mini MPVs (like the Volkswagen SpaceFox/SpaceFox) have better building quality, and they are expected to outsell station wagons in the future.
This new generation of the Gol is expected to appear in April of 2008 with sales beginning in summer 2008 and it will likely be sold as a 2009 model.
[edit] The Voyage
The Voyage 2 door sedan was released in June 1981 with a a 1.5 inline watercooled gasoline engine. The same engine was offered with an ethanol option.
By May 1982 the 1.5 were upgraded to 1.6. In 1984 a watercooled 1.8 was launched as a higher level option.
In January 1983 the four-door sedan was released. It was known as VW Amazon in some export markets, with diesel engines.
Between 1991 and 1995 the Ford CHT 1.6 was in the range as part of the Autolatina lineup.
The four-door Voyage was built in the Autolatina Pacheco factory in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 1983 to 1994. It was sold under the name Gacel with the Argentine built 1.6 ohc engine with a carburettor.
It's expected the new Voyage 2008 to be release in Brazil along with the upgraded Gol, Parati and Saveiro
[edit] Exports to North America as the Fox / Fox Wagon (1987-1993)
The sedan and station wagon versions were sold in North American as the Fox and Fox Wagon between 1987 and 1993 as an entry-level model. The styling changed slightly in 1991, with different grilles, headlights, turn signals etc. Badges also were changed slightly, and the interior was updated. Other differences included such things as two towing hooks instead of four, and a different style of hubcaps for the two of them.
Compared with the rest of the Volkswagen lineup of the time, the Fox was very similar and very different at the same time. Its suspension was indeed Fox-specific, but as noted before it shared a transmission with the Quantum, took its engine from the Golf/Jetta, and used the same generic wheels from other models in the lineup.
The only engine offered was a longitudinally-mounted straight-4 1.8 L gasoline engine. The same engine could have been found in the Jetta and Golf of the time, but the Fox variation was heavily restricted compared to the other models. The engine produced 81 hp @ 5500 rpm and 93 ft·lbf at @3250 rpm. In North America, three different variations of the engine were available. In Canada, the UM model came with CIS fuel injection, no catalytic converter, and no oxygen sensor. By comparison, the US version had CIS-E fuel injection along with the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor. The third variation was on the 1991-93 models, which had a Bosch Digifant II system which stored error codes, and had a 6000 rpm limiter. However, unlike Golfs and Jettas of the same time, all of the North American models did not have a knock sensor or a wide open throttle (WOT) switch.
The different versions were the Fox, Fox GL, Fox GTS, Fox GLS, Fox GL Sport, Fox Polo, and Fox Wolfsburg. Fox options included air conditioning, GL trim (with special cloth seats, map light, glove compartment light, trunk light, tachometer, painted bumpers, etc.), five-speed manual transmission and metallic paint.
[edit] External links
- Shanghai-VW Official Gol Site (in English)
- Pictorial History (in English)
- Gol history (in Portuguese)
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| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Economy car |
Gol / Parati (I) | Gol / Parati (IF) | Gol / Parati (II) | Gol / Parati / Gol Country (III) | Gol / Parati / Gol Country (IV) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voyage / Gacel (I) | Amazon / Senda (IF) | Polo Classic (Mk3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | Fox / CrossFox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SpaceFox / Suran | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | Polo (Mk4) | Polo (Mk4F) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car |
Pointer | Golf Mk3 | Golf Mk4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apollo | Logus | Bora | Vento / Jetta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car |
Passat I | Passat III | Passat IV | Passat VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Santana / Carat / Quantum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panel van | Caddy III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup truck | Saveiro (I) | Saveiro (IF) | Saveiro (II) | Saveiro (III) | Saveiro (IV) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founder: German Auto Association • Volkswagen corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Das Auto | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Subcompact | Fox / Fox wagon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Rabbit I | Golf II | Golf III | Golf IV | Rabbit V | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jetta I | Jetta II | Jetta III | Jetta IV | Jetta V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dasher | New Beetle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Quantum | Passat III | Passat IV | Passat V | Passat VI | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Phaeton | Phaeton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | Scirocco I | Scirocco II | Corrado | Scirocco III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passat CC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible | Rabbit Convertible | Cabriolet | Cabrio | Eos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Beetle Convertible | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | Vanagon (Type 2 - T3) | Eurovan (T4) | Routan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup | Rabbit LX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Tiguan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luxury SUV | Touareg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founder: German Auto Association • Volkswagen corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Das Auto • Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. • VolkswagenGroupAmerica corporate website • Electronics Research Laboratory | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
