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Volkswagen Rabbit
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| Volkswagen Rabbit | |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen AG | |
| aka | Volkswagen Golf outside the US |
| Production | 2006-Present |
| Class | Compact |
| Body Style | 3- or 5-door Hatchback |
| Length | 165.8 in. (4210mm) |
| Width | 69.3 in. (1759mm) |
| Height | 58.2 in. (1479mm) |
| Wheelbase | 101.5 in. (2578mm) |
| Weight | 2,975-3,041 lbs. (1,349-1,379 kg) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 6-speed automatic |
| Engine | 2.5 liter inline-5 |
| Power | 150 hp @ 5000 RPM 170 lb-ft @ 3750 RPM |
| Similar | Ford Focus Honda Civic Chevrolet HHR Mazda Mazda3 Nissan Sentra Dodge Caliber Pontiac Vibe Mini Cooper Toyota Matrix |
| Designer | |
The Volkswagen Rabbit is a compact car manufactured in Germany by Volkswagen. It originally debuted in Europe in 1974 as the Volkswagen Golf and adopted the Rabbit moniker when it made its first appearance in Canada and the United States in 1975. In 1985, Volkswagen switched its name back to the original Golf, and it remained as such for 21 years. When the new Mk V platform was developed, Volkswagen opted to switch the Golf's name again, and in early 2006 the brand new Rabbit was unveiled.
Recent Changes
The Mk V Rabbit is set to replace the Volkswagen Golf for the 2007 model year and beyond. As such, the engine has been upgraded to a standard 2.5-L 150-hp I-5 for both the 2-door and 4-door models.
Styles and Major Options
The 2006 Rabbit is available in two trims: a 2-door hatchback and a 4-door hatchback. Here are some of the features offered with each of them:
Rabbit 2-Door
- 150-hp 2.5L DOHC engine
- 6-way manually adjustable driver's seat
- Turn signal indicator in side mirrors
- 10-speaker AM/FM CD stereo system
- Speed sensitive wipers
Rabbit 4-Door
- 150-hp 2.5L DOHC engine
- 60/40 folding rear seat
- Heatable front seats
- Adjustable lumbar support for driver and front passenger
- Light tinted windows
Pricing
Today's actual prices for the Volkswagen Rabbit can be found at CarsDirect.
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Rabbit Trims |
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2-Door |
4-Door |
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MSRP |
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$14,990 |
$16,990 |
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Invoice |
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$14,378 |
$16,277 |
Gas Mileage
As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:
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Rabbit Specs |
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5-Cyl. 2.5L
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5-Cyl. 2.5L
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MPG |
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22/30 |
22/30 |
Reliability
Before being redesigned and renamed the Rabbit, the Volkswagen Golf received high reliability ratings in recent years. While there is little reason to believe its ratings will drop significantly, it is wise to bear in mind that the new Rabbit is based on an entirely new platform and that reliability ratings for this model are not yet available.
Safety
The Rabbit comes equipped with the following standard safety features:
- 4-wheel Anti-lock braking system with traction control
- Brake Assist
- Dual Front, Side, and Side Curtain airbags with occupancy sensors
- Active head restraints
In addition, the 2007 Rabbit also scored 4/5 and 5/5 stars for frontal and side impact crash tests performed by the NHTSA.
Photos
Colors
The Volkswagen Rabbit is available in the following colors:
Exterior
- Black Uni
- Reflex Silver
- United Gray
- Sage Green
- Shadow Blue
- Candy White
- Tornado Red
Interior
- Anthracite
- Art Gray (only available for 4-door)
Main Competitors
Hybrid Models
There are no hybrid models of the Rabbit.
Unique Attributes
Resale Values
Criticisms
The 2.5 liter 5-cylinder provides good torque, but can't match the horsepower figure, or fuel economy, of Japan's 4-cylinders.
History
The Volkswagen Rabbit was initially introduced in 1974 as the North American version of the European Volkswagen Golf. Production of the Rabbit continued for the duration of the first platform, the Mk I, until 1985 when its original Golf name was reassigned to it. The Rabbit, redesigned on a new platform, now returns the favor in 2007, making its comeback by replacing the Golf in Volkswagen's lineup. A more complete history of the Golf/Rabbit can be found here.
Previous Generations
Generation 2
The second-generation Golf was launched in 1983 (launched in North America in 1985) and featured a larger bodyshell and a wider range of engine options.
This Golf was marketed for the first time with that name in the United States and Canada. The Rabbit name used on the Mark I was meant to give the car a cuddly image, but with the eighties redesign of the car, Carl Hahn, the former Volkswagen of America president and now chairman of the entire Volkswagen company, dictated that Volkswagen model names be standardized globally. James Fuller, head of the Volkswagen brand in North America, concurred in using the Golf name to stress the car's Teutonic character.
When sales in North America failed to live up to expectations, the Westmoreland plant was closed in July 1988.
Generation 1
In 1978, Volkswagen commenced producing the Rabbit version of the Mk1 Golf in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, thus becoming the first European car manufacturer in modern times to produce a vehicle in the United States. Former Chevrolet executive James McLernon was chosen to run the factory, which was built to lower the cost of the Rabbit in North America by producing it locally. Unfortunately, McLernon tried to "Americanize" the Rabbit by softening the suspension and using cheaper materials for the interior. VW purists in America and company executives in Germany were displeased, and for the 1983 model year the Pennsylvania plant went back to using stiffer shocks and suspension with higher-quality interior trim. The plant also began producing the GTI for the North American market. Rabbits were built in Pennsylvania through 1984.
The Volkswagen Rabbit GTI, the North American version of the high-perfomance Golf GTI, debuted in the 1983 model year and was in production for two seasons. Assembled from parts made in Mexico, Canada, Germany and the U.S. in Volkswagen's Westmoreland, Pennsylvania assembly plant, the Rabbit GTI had the same Mk1 chassis, and the same A1 body type as the Mk1 Golf GTI that had been on sale in Europe since 1976, with a few exceptions. Key distinct features of the Rabbit GTI were its GTI surname, the squared front end styling, blue or red felt and leatherette trim, and its alloy "snowflake" wheels. The squared styling of the front end, particularly the wraparound blinkers, gave it added safety and slight improvement in performance. Under the hood, the engine was a JH 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engine that ran on unleaded petroleum fuel. The JH 1.8l was transversely mounted, and it would peak in stock condition at around 80-85 HP. Claims to gas mileage of near-perfectly tuned Rabbit GTIs range bewteen 25 and 30 miles per gallon.
Worldwide
The Rabbit is known everywhere outside North America as the Volkswagen Golf. It has enjoyed immense worldwide success, and remains one of the world's best sellers, moving more than 24 million cars over 5 generations.
Design Quirks and Oddities
The original Golf/Rabbit is credited with popularizing the hot hatch, or European hatchback, style of automobile. After its initial debut, several companies rushed to bring out their own takes on the genre.
Awards
See Also
External Links
