Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Golf VI

With the next-generation Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit looming on the horizon, Wolfsburg is gearing up for an array of new derivatives. First came the report of the next GTI and R hot hatches and now it's confirmed that VW intends to produce a convertible variant as well.

Positioned between the New Beetle convertible and the Eos, the Golf cabrio will feature a cloth top borrowed from the Audi A3 convertible. The Edscha-supplied collapsible roof mechanism should help VW get the new cabriolet to market in a cost-effective and timely manner, and reportedly preclude the need for a roll bar. Expect to see the Golf/Rabbit convertible, which will be made exclusively at Volkswagen's plants in Wolfsburg and Mosel, popping up on the market by 2010.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]

If Consumer Reports is right, Volkswagen is well on its way to attaining its dream of outselling Toyota by 2015. In the magazine's June 2008 issue, CR threw a handful of hatchbacks into the ring and the VW Rabbit hopped out the winner. The magazine cited the Rabbit's "very well finished" interior for its class, agility, braking and transmission as reasons to choose it over a growing field of small hatchbacks. CR also expects the Rabbit to have an "above average" reliability record.

The biggest negative the staff found in the VW was "mediocre" fuel economy for a car its size, though many SUV drivers looking to downsize will love seeing its 24 mpg figure. Staffers also complained about the large C-pillars blocking their view and engine lag after stops.

Consumer Reports has routinely praised the Mazda3 as one of its favorite hatches, but in overall scoring, the car now comes in third, slightly behind the Toyota Prius Touring. Rounding out the top five are the Subaru Impreza Outback Sport and the newly redesigned Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe twins. At the bottom of the list are the Dodge Caliber and the Chevrolet HHR.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

This quarter, the Volkswagen Rabbit knocks the Toyota Yaris out of the top spot on Gaywheels.com's list of top-researched cars. The Yaris, which had hung on to the numero uno spot for the last twelve months, dropped to third place as the VeeDub managed to snag the second spot as well with the hardtop-convertible Eos, which is also a chick car. Making their first appearances on the list are the Volvo C30 at number nine and the Mazda 3 at the tenth spot.

Interestingly, Joe LaMuraglia from Gaywheels.com points out, "60% of the vehicles on the most-researched list are hatchbacks and four of those six have a MSRP starting at under $16K." You'll also see that the entire list, which is available after the jump, is populated with gas-sippers.

Note too that each vehicle on the Most-Researched list is offered by a gay-friendly brand -- based on corporate policies for offering domestic-partner benefits to employees in the U.S.

Comments, as always, are welcome. Please remember to keep 'em clean.

[Source: Gaywheels.com]

The original Thunder Bunny was built by Bill Neumann, founder of Neuspeed, back in 1981. At the time, the Volkswagen GTI wasn't sold in the United States and Neumann was so eager for its arrival stateside that he decided to build his own. Thus, the original Thunder Bunny was born. It was extremely well received for its punch and practicality, and the next year VW began selling the GTI here in the States. Coincidence? We think not.

Some 25 years later, VW has teamed up with Neuspeed to commemorate the original car with the Thunder Bunny concept shown yesterday at the SEMA show. The Thunder Bunny concept adds a turbo to the Rabbit's torquey 2.5-liter, inline five-cylinder engine that increases power from 150 to 225 horsepower. A new front fascia has been grafted on the front and the whole car has been dipped in candy white paint with "topographical" graphics that "blink" on and off depending on the angle at which the car is viewed. Shocks from Bilstein, bunny-bedecked brakes from Brembo and gold-painted forged alloy wheels round out the hardware upgrades to the modern day Thunder Bunny.

Along with the R GTI, the Thunder Bunny is another compelling iteration of the Rabbit that could make a place for itself in the market. Considering how many versions of the Ford Mustang are on the market, one could easily imagine a different Rabbit for every day of the week.

There are more live shots, press pics and VW's full Thunder Bunny press release after the jump

Fans everywhere of the sporty A3 hatchback have even more reason to drool -- its wicked twin, the Audi S3, just launched in Paris, and we've got pictures to prove it, thanks to Autoblog's Eric Bryant.

With 265 turbocharged horses pumped out by one of Audi's new TFSI engines, this is one hot hatch to watch. A six-speed close-ratio manual gearbox puts the power to the road through Audi's signature quattro all-wheel drive system, and a beefed-up suspension system takes care of the handling. Sport seats characterize the interior, with aluminum accents and panel inlay options of piano finish black, more aluminum or birch wood grain. Upholstery is cloth/leather combo unless upgraded to all leather, and the orange is SWEET in this Autoblogger's humble opinion.

Styling is another notch above the A3, where an extended front fascia and 18-inch wheels make their mark. The only complaint we have is the rear end, which the vehicle shares with the A3 -- the tail lights lack the kind of inspiration seen in the Q7 and other siblings.

The benefits of owning an S3 don't come cheap -- the vehicle starts out at 35,150 euro, or $44,650.

On this week's episode, Damon and I break down what occurred between Mazda and the RX-8 community late last week. We also go over the new GMT900 pickups and how new battle lines are being drawn in the pickup wars thanks to high gas prices. We couldn't let the week go by with talking about Playboy, as well. This month's issue of the men's magazine was chock full bunnies, Rabbits and high-priced exotics. We end the show expressing our lament for another Enzo that has bitten the dust and give our best wishes to its owners, Richard Losee, who is recovering after he and his Ferrari crashed at 200 mph and rolled seven times on a highway in Utah. Enjoy the show!

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Hosts
John Neff and Damon Lavrinc

Producer
John Neff

Length
33:20

No, really. Volkswagen announced Tuesday that the U.S.- and Canadian-market Golf will be renamed the Rabbit. The bunny's first official debut will be at the New York International Auto Show Wednesday (just in time for Easter!), although the 2006 Rabbit debuted as the fifth-generation Golf at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year.

Volkswagen's Director of Brand Innovation, Kerri Martin, said, “The reintroduction of the Rabbit represents Volkswagen’s commitment to this market and is a nod to the passionate North American enthusiasts who have an emotional connection with the Rabbit name.”

Maybe we'll see the Thing return, too.

[Source: Volkswagen] Thanks to Peter and Josh for the tip!