Since 1978, when the Golf 1 was launched in South Africa, Volkswagen of South Africa (VWSA) has produced 377 484 Citi’s and a total of 517 384 A1 Golfs (including the Citi’s). The Volkswagen of South Africa plant in Uitenhage has been the only plant in the Volkswagen Group to have continued building the legendary A1 Golf in the guise of the Citi Brand.

Citi made its first appearance on South African roads in 1984, six years after Golf 1 was introduced in South Africa. Volkswagen of South Africa launched the Citi as its affordable car to compete in the entry level segment following the introduction of a bigger and more expensive Golf 2 – the “Jumbo” Golf as it became affectionately known.

Citi has provided South African motorists with a fun and affordable driving package for 25 years. It has defied all marketing textbook theories on the lifecycle of a brand. For 25 years, the Citi range has continuously been refreshed and kept alive with innovative, appealing special and limited editions such as the Designa, CTI, Deco, Sonic, Wolf and R Line.

But VWSA has one last limited edition of the Citi range.

The Citi Mk1, is offered with the 1.6i engine, which has a power output of 74 kW at 5 400 rpm and features 15-inch, gunmetal painted alloy wheels; a polished exhaust tailpipe; dark taillights; double headlights and chrome highlight around grille. On the sides, it will have GT-styled stripes in chrome foil.

The interior has sport seats with partial leather, leather steering wheel, the original golf ball gear knob, floor mats with Mk1 logo and red stitching detail throughout. Citi Mk1 will only be available in two colours, Black and Shadow Blue metallic.

Only 1000 units will be available and each will have a unique number – from 1 to 1000 – which will be embossed on the passenger side dashboard and integrated into the exterior Mk1 logo.

Two of the last produced Citi Mk1 units will join other Volkswagen Classic cars that are on permanent display at the Autostadt, the Volkswagen Group Museum and Brand Expo in Wolfsburg, Germany and at the Volkswagen AutoPavillion Brand heritage centre in Uitenhage.

At the Volkswagen of South Africa production plant in Uitenhage, it was an emotional day for the employees when the last Citi, Citi Mk1 001, rolled off the production line to mark the official end of the A1 production. Thousands of employees attended a special event to bid farewell and pay tribute to the legend and the people who have been crafting the A1 (Citi and Golf 1) by hand for more than 30 years. Over 120 employees, who are still employed by Volkswagen of South Africa, have worked for more than 20 years on the A1 production line.

A ‘Goodbye Tour’ to the Citi will kick off on 12 November 2009 in Uitenhage and will end on 22 November 2009, back at the home of Citi in Uitenhage. The tour will take the limited edition Citi Mk1 across the country with major stopovers in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban. At each city or town where Citi Mk1 will stop, the local public will be invited to make their mark on the car that has made its mark on so many people in South Africa by signing the last Citi ever produced.

Citi Mk1, unit number 003 and the last Citi produced that will be available to the public, will be auctioned online through bidorbuy.co.za from the 3rd to 23rd of November 2009. All the proceeds from the auction will be donated to a community-based organisation, Ubuntu Education Fund in Port Elizabeth.

Follow the Goodbye Citi Tour online at www.goodbyeciti.co.za.