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September U.S. launch for Mark VI Volkswagen Rabbit and GTI

 
8 7,241 views Jan 19, 2009

volkswagen golf mark vi 4motion awd 001

A Golf that weighs about 30% less than the current model is believed to be in development

A Golf that weighs about 30% less than the current model is believed to be in development

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Volkswagen will bring its sixth-generation Golf and the more performance oriented GTI to the United States by September, with production scheduled to begin for the American-spec cars during the tail end of June.

The new Golf will once again be badged as the Rabbit and is expected to be slightly more expensive than the outgoing model, with a $250 price hike set to apply to the base level Rabbit and GTI models. The improvements include a new engine lineup and increased availability of DSG dual-clutch transmission technologies, which can lower fuel consumption by up to 28% in some models.

Despite the current economic crisis and concerns over fuel prices, VW is eager to bring the GTI hot-hatch Stateside and is estimating that it will account for more than a third of Rabbit sales. Of the 35,000 fifth generation Rabbits sold in the U.S. last year, 15,000 were the high-performance GTI model. VW has similar ambitions for the new model, with the carmaker’s brand development chief Ulrich Hackenberg telling Automotive News that management is hoping to sell at least 40,000 units per year from 2010 onwards.

Two engine options will be available for the Rabbit: a 170hp (125kW) 2.5L petrol unit and a 140hp (104kW) TDI clean diesel. The range-topping GTI model will make do with a 210hp (155kW) TSI petrol engine.
VW Golf Mark VI official photos
2009 Volkswagen Golf Rabbit GTI Mark VI

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Comments (8)

  1. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 1/19/2009 6:23am PST

    170 HP for the base engine? The 2.5L engine is horrible. Course, heavy, and a gas-hog. It is only rated at 24 mpg combined with the 6 speed DSG! Why does VW punish the US with such a horrible engine? I knew they wouldn't bring of the EU base engine (1.4L 80 HP) but why not the 100 HP 1.6L or maybe a 1.4L TSI?

    At least we are getting the 2.0 CR TDI.
     
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  2. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 1/19/2009 6:23am PST

    170 HP for the base engine? The 2.5L engine is horrible. Course, heavy, and a gas-hog. It is only rated at 24 mpg combined with the 6 speed DSG! Why does VW punish the US with such a horrible engine? I knew they wouldn't bring of the EU base engine (1.4L 80 HP) but why not the 100 HP 1.6L or maybe a 1.4L TSI?

    At least we are getting the 2.0 CR TDI.
     
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  3. ma_JGoldb avatar JGoldb Posted: 1/19/2009 12:51pm PST

    The 2.5L is cheap to build!

    The 2.5L engine was more smooth than the previous 4-cyl, and is more smooth than most 4-cylinder engines due to one more cylinder in the firing cycle. Coarse in the upper-revs yes, but torque laden in the lower revs.

    Also, VW does not have a 6-speed DSG in the Rabbit, only a 6-speed automatic, which barely eeks 30 MPG on the highway. If VW decideds to be bold and offer their new low-cost 7-speed DSG, I'm sure the 5-cylinder engine could muster either a 32 or 33 on the highway.

    And the reason they don't offer the 1.4L TSI engine in the US is our gasoline isn't refined enough - our gas would damage the tech-laden engine. I think the engine requires a minimum of either 95 or 98 octane, which isn't even offered in the US.
     
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  4. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 1/19/2009 1:49pm PST

    I would like the TDI with the DSG transmission, but love the power hike in the GTI.
     
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  5. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 1/19/2009 3:21pm PST

    www.VW.com lists the Rabbit as using a 6 speed Direct Shift Gearbox with Tiptronic. That would be DSG to the rest of us.

    The TSI will run just find on American gasoline. There are two different measurements of octane; RON and MON. Most of the world sells gasoline based on RON but the US and Canada advertise our based on the average of the two (RON+MON)/2.

    98 EU ~ 93 US (Premium)
    95 EU ~ 91 US
    91 EU ~ 87 US (Regular)

    The VW TSI engine is designed to run on 98 octane (RON) so in the US you would need to use 93 Octane. It will also run on 95 (RON) at reduced power.
     
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  6. ma_JGoldb avatar JGoldb Posted: 1/19/2009 5:48pm PST

    I was unaware that VW started putting DSG in the Rabbit. Is that new for '09?
     
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  7. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 1/19/2009 5:53pm PST

    May get it in Europe, not in America I am aware of, just on my wish lists of things
     
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  8. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 1/19/2009 6:49pm PST

    A DSG has been available in the Rabbit since 2008.
     
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