THE fifth generation VW Golf was officially launched on Friday in Marsa. The magnificent Marsovin wine cellars provided an idyllic atmosphere for the launch of a car that, as Continental Cars managing director Maurice Mizzi said in his speech, "improves with age just like a bottle of excellent red wine".
And while beautiful Marsovin Atlantis red and white wine flowed all night, the numerous guests present, who included many Golf owners and prospective buyers, had the chance to admire a spanking new red Golf model that was surprisingly unveiled in the cellars themselves.
Addressing those present Jeremy Cassar, Marsovin's head of marketing, thanked Continental Cars for choosing the Marsa cellars for such a prestigious launch.
Speaking on the Golf's formidable history, Chev. Mizzi said that "with each version we had thought that the Golf had reached the ultimate in perfection and yet each model brought a big improvement on the previous one".
The first Golf was introduced in 1974 and was smaller than the present Polo. Since then three more versions of the Golf have been introduced and now we have yet another.
The fifth generation, award-winning Golf's exterior length is some 5 cm longer than its predecessor. It is 2.4 cm wider with a wheel base of 257.8 cm. The car's height was also increased by 4.1 cm.
Besides its dimensions, the new Golf has many added features included in the comfortline model such as rain sensors; windscreen wipers with intelligent control; and intelligent entertainment systems which increase the sound as speed increases.
As for safety the Golf has a high-strength bodywork, optimised in countless crash simulations, for excellent protection of the occupants.
"It is the best car in its class with regard to crash properties of its bodywork. It's injury hazards have been minimised by fitting ten airbags as standard with the front passenger airbag having an option to be deactivated," Chev. Mizzi said.
The new Golf also has an Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) and braking assistants which are fitted as standard.
"It is as aggressive as any car can be. Both front and rear show the aggressiveness of a wolf in wolf's clothing. This is quite in order since the car is produced in Wolfsburg which means the city of wolfs," Chev. Mizzi said.
The new Golf is available with eight different engines starting at Lm10,000.