Volkswagen's Rabbit Punch

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