Volkswagen’s Rabbit Punch

It was year 1975 and VW sales were dropping.Month” was made in November 1999. In the first
Japanese auto makers were rapidly advancing insidehalf of the new century, the sales of the Golf, VW
the US market with little boxtypes far cheaper than aRabbit’s successor, steadily dropped in the North
Beetle. To address this threat, VW came up with aAmerican market. VW US decided that a re-branding
small front wheel drive car that was Spartan-like inis needed to save its lofty position in the automotive
every way. Enter the VW Rabbit, a water-cooled 4market. On 12 April 2006, at the Detroit Auto Show
cylinder, with a transversely mounted engine driving theVolkswagen of America announced the return of the
front wheels for around the same price as aVW Rabbit.
Japanese compact sedan. From that time on, theThe “new” Rabbit is the same model as the
Rabbit has replaced the Beetle in the US consumerGolf V being sold in the rest of the world. VW bosses
market. With this development, the Rabbit started offwere hoping that the nostalgia-factor coupled with a
the influx of a new Volkswagen generation.lower price tag will help thrust Rabbit sales. The
Known and lauded for its very efficient fuel economy,strategy has worked quite well. In fact, the Kelly Blue
the VW Rabbit never received many changes overBook, a top-rated website providing vehicle pricing and
the years of its production, but it did receive manyinformation, named the VW Rabbit as one of the
improvements. When local production started in the US“Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000?
in 1979, the VW Rabbit part that underwent the mostbecause it provides “the consumer with results that
noticeable and defining change was its set ofare needed in today’s economy.” It noted the
headlights. The front lighting system was replaced withrelatively high utility-per-dollar value of the VW Rabbit
new square-type headlights. In 1981, the Rabbit gotas the compact workhorse gives the performance,
another make-over.safety, environmental impact, fuel economy, styling and
Gone were the small taillights, replaced by square-typecomfort at just a price range starting at $14,990. Yet, a
ones, which include wrap around turn signals. In thatcloser look at the new VW Rabbit shows that indeed,
same year, the engine grew from 1.6 to 1.7L , and theit has evolved to a very valuable, highly functional
diesel variant from 1.5 to 1.6. In 1982, the sport compactcompact vehicle. Capacity has become flexible with
version of the VW Rabbit was introduced — the 1.8LVW Rabbit’s leather-wrapped 60/40 split rear
GTi, armed with tuned up VW Rabbit parts – stifferseating.
suspension, alloy wheels, front air dam, and speciallyA key VW Rabbit part added to the new version is
designed Recaro sport seats. Top speed, acceleration,the External Temperature Gauge designed to
and handling were tweaked on the GTi. Anotherdetermine temperature outside the Rabbit, useful in
edition was also released in 1982 called the Rabbitcrossing state lines, mountain ranges, and other
“black tie” edition. A set of black bumpers andclimactic zones. The presence of an electromechanical
mouldings was added as an add-on VW Rabbit partpower steering gives tighter steering and lessens
giving the car a meaner and sportier look. The interiorpollutants, since it does not use harmful steering fluids.
had special seats, while the outside got a rear wiper. InBut what makes the VW Rabbit a cut above its
July 1984, the VW Rabbit moved over to make waycontemporaries is its new five-cylinder engine, which
for the production of the new Golf. VW Rabbit’sobviously gives it more power to sweep past its
convertible has continued to be produced after beingcompetitors. Other add-ons that set the VW Rabbit in
re-designed and renamed from Rabbit convertible toa class of its own are its variable windshield wipers,
Cabriolet and renamed once again recently to Cabrio.automatic climate control, heated side windows, cruise
Although short lived, the Rabbit, gave Volkswagen thecontrol, traction control system, cargo area tie-downs,
much-needed breathing room and a new headstart.power outlets at the cargo area, four-wheel disc
However, the production of the VW Rabbit has still notbrakes, and additional turn signals. Indeed, Volkswagen
completely died off. Rabbit MK1’s are still beingmay have stamped its name in the international
produced by Volkswagen of South Africa as theautomotive arena, but it seems to have lived, died, and
consumer model. In fact, the “Rabbit of thelived again in the American market with its Rabbit.