Volkswagen Golf Mk4
1999-2010

Design and Engineering
The Golf Mk4 was a significant car in its class.   As with its big brother, not only was it the first step of Volkswagen moving its products upmarket to plug a gap between the mainstream machines and the premium cars, with SEAT and Skoda taking over as the mainstream in a new level of interior quality and sophistication never seen before from a mainstream brand in the class.   In fact, the quality of the Golf was on a par with its sister Audi A3 from the year before, but cost considerably more than other cars in its class.   The latest model remained faithful to the Golf concept but included some of the new "arched" styling themes first seen on the Mk4 Passat.

Variant
The Volkswagen Golf Mk4 Variant was introduced in 1999.   It was discontinued in 2006, and succeeded in 2007 by the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 Variant.  Unlike the Mk3, it was offered in North America where the Jetta name and front sheetmetal were used.  

GTI 25th Anniversary Edition (2002)
The GTI 25th Anniversary Edition was a special version of the Golf GTI, for the European Market to commemorate the first Golf model, launched in 1976.   At the time of its launch, it wasn't confirmed whether Volkswagen was going to sell this special edition model in the United States.  

A year later a similarly-equipped version of the GTI, called the GTI 337 Edition, was officially introduced at the New York Auto Show and made it to dealers late May 2002 to the US & Canadian markets.   The price of the GTI 337 was $22,225 in the U.  S.   and $32,900 in Canada.   Only 1,500 units were produced for the US market with an additional 250 for the Canadian market.   This model came painted exclusively in metallic Reflex Silver.  

Both the GTI 25th anniversary and the 337 editions were equipped with many extra features not included in the standard GTI.   They included: 18x7.  5" BBS RC Wheels with special ball peen finish, perforated leather shift boot and handbrake, red and black seat belts, Red and Black upholstered Recaro seats, factory body kit (front valance, sideskirts, hatch spoiler, and rear valance), 02M 6-speed manual transmission, larger front and rear brakes, lowered sport tuned suspension, and brushed aluminum interior trim.   These models were never equipped with a sunroof as to take the car back to its roots, the Mk1 GTI, and improve handling and performance.  

GTI 20th Anniversary Edition (2003)
Following the initial commemorative anniversary edition GTI produced in Europe in 1996 celebrating the introduction of the GTI model in 1976, and the overwhelming popularity of the 25th anniversary edition GTI produced 2001 (known as the GTI 337 in North America when released in 2002), Volkswagen of America produced 4,200 so-branded "20th Anniversary Edition" GTIs and 4000 were shipped to the United States and 200 to Canada.   This event, in 2003, marked the 20th anniversary of the GTI's first introduction to the U.  S.   and Canadian market, some 7 years after the GTI was introduced to the European market.   Several special features distinguish this new GTI from the rest of the pack.  

On the outside, the 20th Anniversary edition came with throwback red-lettered GTI logos on the left front and right rear.   The rear was also accompanied by a vintage-look chrome rabbit.   Blackened headlights added a distinctive look, while Votex front, rear, and side skirts along with a hatch spoiler and special edition 18" OZ Aristo alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sports complete the exterior transformation.   These models were produced only in three colours: Imola Yellow, Jazz Blue and Black Magic Pearl.   Distribution of production was 50% Black magic pearl, 25% Jazz Blue and 25% Imola Yellow.  

Inside, a few accents were noticeable.   Unlike other models, there were no options offered.   The only true option was ESP, Volkswagen's stability control feature.   All "20ths" had a sunroof, black headliner, golf ball shift knob, black leather steering wheel with silver stitching, black leather shifter boot with silver stitching, perforated leather covered hand brake handle, and sporty black cloth Recaro bucket seats with silver stitching accents and red GTI emblems embroidered in the middle of the back rests.   Aluminum trim came standard, complete with a numbered nameplate above the center console identifying the exact production number (US production only) of the vehicle.   Volkswagen's premier 8-speaker Monsoon stereo system was also standard.  

Mechanically, the 20th Anniversary Edition GTI is nearly identical to the GTI 337 Edition.   A 6-speed manual 02m transmission marked the most notable departure from the norm, and upgraded suspension stiffened up the ride and lowered the car approximately 30 mm (lower sport springs and revised bushings in the rear).   Upgraded disc brakes front (12.  3" vented rotors) and rear (10.  3" vented rotors) helped bring things to a stop, while red powder-coated calipers added a bit of flair to the package.   Starting in 2002 with engine code AWP, all of the models of the GTI's 1.  8T increased in factory boost pressure and horsepower from 150 bhp (110 kW) to 180 bhp (130 kW).  

R32 (2002)
European-spec R32
In 2002, Volkswagen produced the Golf R32 in Europe as a 2003 model year.   Due to unexpected popularity, Volkswagen of America decided to sell the car in the United States as the 2004 model year Volkswagen R32.   Billed as the pinnacle of the Golf IV platform, the R32 included every performance, safety, and luxury feature Volkswagen had to offer, including the all new 3.2 litre 24-valve VR6 engine (ID codes: BFH/BML), which produced a rated motive power output of 177 kilowatts (237 hp), and 320 N·m of torque.   The North American variant of the R32 shared the same mass flow sensor (MAF) as the original Audi TT 3.2, which was slightly larger (¼") than the European spec R32's MAF.   This is said to have increased horsepower to that of the Audi TT 3.2, at about 250hp.   Further additions included Haldex Traction-based 4-motion on-demand four-wheel drive system, a new six-speed manual transmission, independent rear suspension, Climatronic automatic climate control, sport seats from König with R32 logos, 18" OZ Aristo alloy wheels (Ronal produced the wheels towards the end of production), Electronic Stability Programme, larger 334 mm disc brakes with gloss blue painted calipers, sunroof, and model specific bodywork additions.   In the US, the vehicle was available in only four colours: Black Magic Pearl, Deep Blue Pearl, Reflex Silver, and Tornado Red.   The distribution of US-spec R32 colours were as follows:

Deep Blue Pearl: 40%
Reflex Silver: 35%
Black Magic Pearl: 15%
Tornado Red: 10%

Although the R32 looked similar to the 25th Anniversary GTI, it shared most of its major components with the 3.2 litre Audi TT, including the engine, four-wheel drive system, and both front and rear suspension geometries.   Five thousand cars were produced and intended to be sold over a two-year period, but the entire line was sold out within 13 months.  The R32 is the second quickest car that Volkswagen has imported to the U.S.  , after the B6 Passat 3.6 4-motion Sedan - at 5.6 seconds.   The R32 is capable of 0-100 kilometres per hour in 6.6 seconds, and clearing the quarter mile in 14.  1 seconds at 159.6 km/h.   The R32 edges out its third fastest sibling, the top-of-the-line Phaeton 6.0 litre W12 (414 bhp), by a tenth of a second at the 402 m mark.  It also has a surprisingly high resale and used-car value; the Kelley Blue Book used car retail price for a model in excellent condition with low mileage actually exceeds the original retail price of the car in many cases, making it one of a few recent cars that have actually approached an increase in value over time.   This premium can be explained mostly due to scarcity, both of the cars themselves due to low production and importation, and especially ones that still have extremely low mileage.  

Mk4 "City Golf" in Canada, South America & Bora HS in China
2007-2010 Volkswagen City Golf (Canada) In China, FAW-VW launched a new Golf IV, with FAW-VW's Bora facelift front, at the Beijing International Automobile Exhibition in 2006.   It is named Bora HS to complement the Bora Mk IV range, as the Golf name was reserved for the Golf VI manufactured by FAW-VW in Q3, 2009.

The Golf Mk4 also continues to be sold in countries such as Brazil, Chile and Argentina.   However, in Argentina the range is available on 1.6L 4 cylinder petrol, a 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol, 1.8L Turbo petrol, or a 1.9-litre 130 bhp (97 kW) turbodiesel.   In Chile, it is also sold, on 1.6 to 2.0L petrol range.   Also, there is a turbo 1.8 version available.   All of these are Brazilian built models with a 4-cylinder petrol engines.

In Brazil, the Mk4 Golf has a 1.6 (with Volkswagen Totalflex system which accepts both gasoline or alcohol), 1.8 Turbocharged engine and 2.0-litre engine, and comes in main trim level only.

In 2007, Volkswagen Brazil has introduced a major restyling of the fourth generation Golf.   The front takes styling cues from the current Volkswagen Polo and the back of the car is inspired by the Golf 5.  It is exported in most Latin America countries, since it is produced in Brazil.

The Canadian model was renamed as the City Golf in 2007 and in 2009 it was renamed the Golf City alongside the Jetta City.  It is not sold in the United States.   Pricing of the Golf City starts at C$15,300 as of 2008.   As an entry-level alternative to the Rabbit, it offers only one engine: the 2.0L SOHC 8 valves with 115 hp (86 kW).   It is not related to the South African Volkswagen CitiGolf, despite the similarity in name.   The Mk4 Jetta has been similarly reintroduced in Canada for the 2007 model year as the City Jetta.

From "Wikipaedia" - so it must be true