2007 Rabbit: Volkswagen Revisits Its Roots Of Affordable Fun

The Rabbit legend of practical, sporty and fun entry-level transportation continues

Like the original Volkswagen Rabbit, sold in the United States from 1974 through 1984, the new version is a true “driver’s car” that’s both affordable and fun to drive.

Available in two- and four-door models (or, as hatchback devotees refer to them, three- and five-door models), the 2007 Rabbit is nimble and quick, requiring short stopping distances and small turning spaces. Ideal for squeezing through tight urban streets and sliding into small parking places, the Rabbit is also a stable open road cruiser.

With a 2.5 L engine and sophisticated suspension system, the 2007 Rabbit is available with a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic Tiptronic¨ transmission. Either way, a key piece of Rabbit heritage remains: affordability.

With the reintroduction of the Rabbit, Volkswagen returns to brand qualities that made the original such a hit—German engineering, quality materials and construction, and sporty yet practical design and performance.

The two-door Rabbit with five-speed manual transmission starts at $14,990.

Music lovers will appreciate that Volkswagen has added an auxiliary audio jack to the Rabbit. An iPod adapter is also available. A CD and MP3-format readable audio system comes standard with a single-disc in-dash “changer” and an eight-speaker sound system in the two-door Rabbit model. Four-door models come standard with an upgraded audio system with a six-disc in-dash CD changer and 10-speaker sound system. Satellite radio is also available, and comes with a three-month subscription to SIRIUS™ satellite radio service.

The new Rabbit picks up in spirit where the original left off, and carries on with one very obvious sign of its ancestry. At the bottom of the passenger side of the large rear hatch is a “running Rabbit” and engine badge.

The “sleeper” exterior of the Rabbit is remarkably reflective of the original, yet updated and modern in every way. As was the intent from the start, the Rabbit design is simple and understated. The 2007 Rabbit includes crystal-clear halogen headlamps and dual exhaust tips for added appeal.

Three new exterior colors are also available. Tornado Red, Candy White and United Gray exteriors panels are matched with body-color upper bumpers and moldings, door handles, front grille and mirror housings. Black moldings are a distinguishing trait of the two-door Rabbit model.

Manufactured at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg, Germany, production facility, the sporty 2007 Rabbit is 165.8 inches long, with a 69.3-in. width and 58.2-in. height. A laser-welding production process increases body strength and crash protection, and improves driving dynamics. This production process creates class-leading fit and finish and helps to reduce interior noise.

At the heart of the Rabbit is the 2.5-liter, inline five-cylinder, dual-overhead camshaft engine delivering 150 horsepower at 5,000 revolutions per minute. A prodigious 170 lbs.-ft. of torque develops at 3,750 rpm, with 90 percent available from 1,750 rpm to 5,125 rpm.

Unlike many sport cars, fuel efficiency is not compromised for driving performance in this latest version of the Rabbit. The EPA estimates fuel efficiency at 30 miles per gallon in highway driving, and 22 mpg in city driving.

The Rabbit is sure to please enthusiastic drivers with its fully-independent suspension system, matched to a multi-link rear suspension and front and rear stabilizer bars. This setup delivers stability at speed, agility for quick maneuvers, and a comfortable passenger ride. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel disc brakes, with four-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). Standard 15-inch steel wheels can be optioned out for 16-inch alloy wheels, both shod with standard all-season radial tires.

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