Filed under: Economy, Etc., Hatchbacks, Volkswagen
Has the Harlequin Golf returned?
In 1996 Volkswagen took four Harlequin Golf models on the auto show circuit. A similar Polo model sold in Europe inspired these cars that feature body panels painted in Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red, and Chagall Blue. Building four single-color cars and then exchanging their body panels was how these Harlequins were produced, and Volkswagen did this for approximately 275 cars that were sold in the U.S. as 1996 models. A Harlequin model's rocker panels, rear quarter panels and roof reveal its original color.
Volkswagen has officially kicked off sales of the renamed Rabbit (Golf MKV) in the U.S., and sharp-eyed viewers have caught a 2006 Harlequin Rabbit zooming around in one of the car's new commercials.
Is this VW just having some fun or is the Harlequin set to make a comeback?
Hats off to RossVW.com for all the info about the rarest VW model ever produced.
Check out the Volkswagen commercial in question here via YouTube.
Thanks to Michael for the tip!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alexander Drummond 9:43AM (7/02/2006)
I'm just waiting for a TDI Rabbit.
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GhostDoggy 9:53AM (7/02/2006)
You must live outside the USA. No more TDI cars at this time.
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martin 10:06AM (7/02/2006)
A TDI Rabbit would be nice. By the way that is an awesome commercial.
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tr 10:08AM (7/02/2006)
i don't know if it means the harlequin is coming back...i just thought that patchwork car in the commercials was a result of the black and white rabbits "getting busy". put a white and black rabbit in a tunnel together, and you're bound to get black, white, gray, and patchwork baby rabbits!
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Adam Singer 10:38AM (7/02/2006)
There's one near me that I see every once in a while. I didn't know it was a special model I just thought the guy was a weirdo!
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Kris 11:29AM (7/02/2006)
Scott VW in Providence, RI has one of these. Its their official service ride car. They've dropped me off in it a number of times while I had my car serviced. Its goofy looking, but impossible to miss.
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Jason 12:43PM (7/02/2006)
There's one of those in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Never knew it was something VW actually produced.
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Mr Oblong 1:42PM (7/02/2006)
Great for artsy types.
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verdegrrl 1:53PM (7/02/2006)
Some guy built an absolutely insane VR6 harlequin that was slammed on coilovers and the works (the original harlequin cars were all 2.0). Looked like an insane Lego toy.
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Joshi 2:10PM (7/02/2006)
Wow, I want one.
I agree that I see the "patchwork" Rabbit mainly as a joke to the whole "birds and the bees" Rabbit commercial, but it's interesting that it's a nod to a rare Golf, too. But that doesn't mean that the Harlequin is coming back.
At first, I wasn't sure I liked VW reviving the Rabbit name, but the commercial makes me love the idea. I'm glad VW is showing some signs of turning around after their failed trip upmarket - that's what Audi's for, anyway. And while I still don't think they've reached their potential as a kitschy, Mini-style automaker (where's the New Microbus?), a $14,990 car is a good start. Unfortunately, it looks like the New Scirocco still subscribes to their upmarket philosophy - at it's reported price, I'd just buy a TT.
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Michael 4:56PM (7/02/2006)
Yeah the Harlequin cars are the coolest. I want one so bad...
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risingsun 5:04PM (7/02/2006)
Someone please photoshop some dreadlocks onto the top of that car.
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Jay 6:11PM (7/02/2006)
VW's been cranking out some awesome ads lately...I haven't been too high on VWs in a while, but their ad campaigns have been making me take a look.
Pity this Rabbit gets such poor fuel economy. According to what I saw on VW.com, it gets 22/30, which is unacceptable in this class of vehicle. Midsize family sedans with V6 engines get that.
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verdegrrl 12:27AM (7/03/2006)
Jay,
The new Rabbit 2.5 gets within 2 or 3 mpg of what the Mazda3 gets, despite weighing in at 2900lbs (about 200 more than Mazda). It also produces more torque at lower rpms than the Mazda, MINI, or Scion tc despite producing slightly less horsepower than the others.
Everybody wants more features and more safety, so cars get heavier. The Rabbit comes standard or optional with traction control and stability control, which is only one aspect where the extra pounds might be packed on. Most people report the Rabbit/Golf is smoother and quieter as well.
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MrSweetNLow 3:11AM (7/03/2006)
That would be awesome to have, wonder what kind of options they would have if they come out?
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Galley 8:12AM (7/03/2006)
Only 275 made? Wow, I should've bought one when I had the chance.
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Lithous 9:51AM (7/03/2006)
The Germans have to be laughing their tails off. This was probably done just to see how dumb Americans are to buy a car with body panels from the junk yard. I see cars like this once and a while and it is usually from people who have accidents and get it fixed the cheapest way possible with different colored parts from the junk yard. Un-freakin'-real. So if I took a dump in a box and told you only 275 available, you'd buy it. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114694/quotes#qt0215270
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tim 11:51AM (7/03/2006)
The rarest VW ever? I don't think so. What about the Mark 2 G60 16v Limited. There were only 70 of those. I wish I had one. 210bhp, 4-wheel drive and looked like a standard 5-door CL on a 2" drop and BBS splitties.
Check this out Lithous - read the last three paragraphs.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/06/25/svart25.xml
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tim 12:01PM (7/03/2006)
The rarest VW ever? I don't think so. What about the Mark 2 G60 16v Limited. There were only 70 of those. I wish I had one. 210bhp,4-wheel drive and looked like a standard 5-door CL on a 2" drop and BBS splitties.
Check this out Lithous - read the last three
paragraphs. "http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/06/25/svart25.xml"
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jeff 12:05PM (7/03/2006)
There is one of the 1996 ones by where I live. I just thought it was some artsy guy that painted his car funny to be different. Thanks for the history lesson, Autoblog.
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