As Volkswagen introduces the sixth generation of its popular compact as a 2010 model, the Golf name returns.
2010 Volkswagen Golf
Styling is more expressive, but the car is instantly recognizable as a Gol ... er ... Rabbi ... er Golf. The base 170-horsepower 2.5-liter 5 cylinder and the GTI's 200-horsepower turbo 4 carry over, but added will be the 140-horsepower 2.0-liter turbodiesel used in the Jetta.
Explaining the moniker flip-flop, VW spokesman Tom Wegehaupt was quoted in Automotive News as saying, "A lot of consumers tell us they prefer the name Rabbit, but we are moving to this name strategy. There is so much weight behind Golf--we have sold more than 26 million in 30 years in 120 countries."
No word yet on pricing, but expect to see the Golf in showrooms this fall.
CG Says...
Globalization has claimed our Rabbit, again. That's OK; Golf's a good
name, too. More important, the new car now comes with VW's spirited,
ultra-frugal TDI diesel engine. The only question is price. A strong
euro and a fading dollar can be cruel when it comes time to price an
entry-level European car.
For more information on hundreds of new cars of today and tomorrow, check out:
- New York Auto Show Home Page
- Consumer Guide's 2009 Auto Show coverage
- Consumer Guide New Car Reviews and Prices: Road test results, photos, specifications, and prices for hundreds of new cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs from the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide.
- Consumer Guide's 2009 Best Buys and Recommendeds: Our Best Buy and Recommended picks focus on overall vehicle value and take into account performance, economy, reliability, ease of use, comfort, and price.
- Future Cars: Check out what's just on the horizon.
