In a surprise move, Volkswagen announced today that its all-new fifth generation Golf, which debuted at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show, is going back to its roots with the original Rabbit nameplate for the U.S. and Canadian markets. The Rabbit will hop into the market in early summer, after its official introduction at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, April 12, 2006, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Rabbit was always exclusive to the U.S. and Canadian markets; while the rest of the world had the Golf, we had the iconic Rabbit, said Volkswagens Director of Brand Innovation, Kerri Martin. The reintroduction of the Rabbit represents Volkswagens commitment to this market and is a nod to the passionate North American enthusiasts who have an emotional connection with the Rabbit name.
Volkswagen customers want a relationship with their cars. Names like The Thing, Beetle, Fox, and Rabbit support this, Martin added.
The Rabbit goes on sale this summer in both two and four-door versions, with pricing starting at $14,990 for the two-door. Standard features include an advanced ABS braking system, traction control, active front head restraints, front side airbags, air conditioning and anti-theft alarm system with remote locking. Always known for its value, this latest Rabbit is no exception, offering a high level of standard features and equipment at an attractive starting price.
The Rabbit was the first Volkswagen produced in the United States and its appeal grew rapidly, with sales of over 1.3 million in its 10-year lifespan. The Rabbits popularity can be credited to the wide array of standard features it offered at an attractive price. The 2006 Rabbit promises a return to the high-value, iconic status of the original.
The Rabbits return to Volkswagens family is not an attempt to recreate the original car; todays Rabbit is manufactured at our Wolfsburg production facility alongside the all-new GTI.
The Rabbit, or Golf as it is well known throughout the rest of the world, is the worlds best-seller with over 25 million cars sold over five generations. This latest generation has already won more than 25 awards in more than sixteen countries. And, yesterday, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), announced that the 2006 Rabbit four-door received the Top Safety Pick, Silver award, based on the Institutes frontal offset, side impact, and rear crash protection ratings.
Martin adds, Even the name Rabbit dramatizes the enhanced performance, playing off the cars clever design, efficient size, agility and nimbleness. The Rabbit is back.
