Is an all-electric Rabbit coming from Volkswagen? The small, nimble Beetle successor (therefore Rabbit) was successful within the US as a consequence of its Rabbit-like agility and low value to personal.
Volkswagen launched the Rabbit in North America in January 1975, recognized in Europe because the VW Golf.
The compact automobile rapidly grew to become the model’s hottest mannequin, surpassing the Beetle and higher-priced Dashers and Scirocco fashions of the time.
A New York Instances article from 1976 states, “For the final three months, the Rabbit share of these gross sales has run about 50% or 8,000 a month.” The article mentions that consumers and auto critics “beloved the little automobile’s roominess, dealing with, excessive velocity, and quick acceleration — beloved It.”
Nonetheless, the publish goes on to say, “That’s, when it ran, which apparently wasn’t sufficient.” Shopper Studies journal rated the Rabbit as its number-one small automobile however mentioned, “House owners have reported appreciable troubles with their automobile.”
In 1985, the Rabbit was renamed, as VW badged the second-generation mannequin with the unique Golf title.
Is Volkswagen planning an electrical Rabbit for the US?
Though the Rabbit made its US return in 2006, it was discontinued once more in 2009. The agile compact automobile is just accessible as a particular version of the Golf. Nonetheless, don’t depend it out too quickly, as it could be making its return within the electrical period.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Automobiles, posted a video of a rabbit on his LinkedIn with the caption, “At Volkswagen, we love the rabbit. The countdown is on! Keep Tuned.”
The announcement fueled hypothesis a couple of shock debut on the Wolfsburg commerce truthful, in keeping with German automobile newspaper Automobilwoche.
A number of experiences are predicting Volkswagen will launch an electrical Rabbit, or E-Rabbit, because the German automaker strikes to an electrical lineup.
VW already has the ID.3 electrical compact automobile, which changed the e-Golf in 2020. Nonetheless, it’s not accessible within the US.
Electrek’s Take
A brand new electrical Rabbit might assist Volkswagen regain market share within the US with an economical, fun-to-drive EV.
VW has but to substantiate if will probably be electrical or ICE, however given consumers and the highest auto markets are trending towards EV, it will take advantage of sense.
One other risk is that the Rabbit might be launched as a sportier model of the ID.3. We’ll discover out extra in seven days when VW plans to carry a press convention on the IAA Mobility in Munich.
