VW Golf MkV? Nope, here in the USA it'll be the Rabbit
 

No, it's not a late April Fool's joke - Volkswagen is bringing back the iconic Rabbit nameplate for its small car in the United States and Canada.

The nameplate change takes effect for the fifth generation of the vehicle, which goes on sale in early summer. VW said Tuesday that the 2006 Rabbit would have a base price of $15,620, including shipping, for the two-door hatchback. The lineup also will include a four-door hatchback.

VW has sold the vehicle under the Golf name, which it uses globally, in the United States and Canada since 1984. The original Rabbit was sold in the United States from late 1974 through 1984, and built in VW's factory in Westmoreland, Pa., from 1978 to 1988.

"We think we have some opportunities to do something creative with the Rabbit nameplate," spokesman Steve Keyes said.

VW also recognizes that the Golf nameplate has never really caught on with North American consumers, Keyes added, as it was overshadowed by the Jetta sedan and wagon.

In 2005, VW sold 15,690 Golfs in the United States, compared with 104,063 Jettas.

"Volkswagen customers want a relationship with their cars," said Kerri Martin, VW's director of brand innovation, in a statement. "Names like The Thing, Beetle, Fox and Rabbit support this."

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...024/LATESTNEWS

15k units sold? Do they count GTIs as Golfs as well?

Rabbit sounds retarted. As do the other names aforementioned.

Good, the Golf has become a pig.

AutoExtremist ripped all over this on Wednesday, this week.
Some VW was quoted as saying that VW loyalists in America lust for 'Beetle, Fox, and Rabbit.'

BRING BACK THE FOX!!! :chuckles:

I think it's a good move. The rabbit was the original, and it did well. I don't even see why they changed the name in the first place

Well, the car has always been called Golf in the rest of the world, but the first generation was sold here as the Rabbit. Kinda like how the Jetta was sold in Europe as the Bora and the Vento at various times, and now I think they're back to calling it Jetta over there.

Meh... it might be a good move, especially for non-car people. The Rabbit was here before the Golf and the rest of the VW lineup got really awful in the 80s and the whole "American VW" fiasco. I remember my parents used to own a 78 or 79 German-made Rabbit and even today they still have great memories of that car. They would neve actually buy another VW (they bought another VW, an American-made one. Yeah, that one sucked.) or any other European or American car, but still very good memories of the Rabbit.

i think it'll be a good move, 'cause the rabbit has a lot of nostalgic value in this country. i can already see the VW marketing department (or contracted ad agency) having a field day with this.

It's the same car. Only the name is changing.

Reading > me :oh: