MkVI VW Rabbit & GTI coming to America next September

[Nakagaki]

Volkswagen customers in the United States have been patiently awaiting the arrival of the new sixth-generation Rabbit and its GTI performance variant. And while it's still a little ways off, at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel as the German automaker has announced that the new model will hit the U.S. market in early September 2009. European customers, meanwhile, already began taking delivery of their new Golfs last month, with the GTI due to arrive there next summer.

American versions will initially be available with the current 2.5-liter inline-five, a new 2-liter turbodiesel in the TDI version and the GTI's 2-liter TSI. A new 1.8-liter TFSI is expected to replace the base 2.5-liter unit, with 4Motion all-wheel-drive, TwinDrive hybrid and LPG versions to follow, as well as a possible all-electric version and a replacement for the current top-of-the-line R32 performance model. North American models will also come equipped with adaptive cruise control, adaptive chassis control and 19-inch wheels as standard. Of the current (fifth-generation) Rabbit, the GTI version accounted for roughly one third of models sold, which Volkswagen expects to continue with this new generation. In the meantime, you can check out the high-resolution images in the two galleries below.

MkVI VW Rabbit & GTI coming to America next September - Autoblog

[therra978]

oh man that looks nice. Front end def. looks 10x better. The wheels are gross. That is all.

[walrusneck]

i kinda like the old one better, but i bet it will grow on me

[GoHuskies]

Sign me up for a diesel hybrid version!

[Red_Devil]

touareg back end, slots like the R8 on the front

[Sexy6Speed]

def better than the current gen!

[CarlinoSalazar]

this looks so sick. can wait to see one in person

[aki]

No Sirocco = fail. I won't stop saying it until they finally release the stinkin thing.

[4door]

i'v seen a review on this... it scored ok, not great, just ok

[darna]

[02em2ex]

nice interior

[NitrousG35]

I like it. Nice updating over the current version. Interior is hot, especially the steering wheel. Overall, it is something I would consider buying.

[b.rock]

I think the current gen GTI is a nice car...This one is even better. Nice revised looks, nice stitching on the steering wheel and I've always been a fan of those sexy leather GTI seats.

They did a good job of making the GTI look much sportier and less like a grocery-getter.

[xrs54]

nooooooo

[skwallee]

sorry for bringing this thread back, but anyone thinking about trading in their Si's for when the GTI MKVI comes out? also, do you guys think that Honda will follow soon after with a new generation civic?

[BeitzelSi]

VW FINALLY made the inside look nice!! I was tired of VW's interiors looking like they were fit for a 10 year old.

[nevertofast]

it comes with a type r shift boot !!!:yeah that:

[adamk20]

Originally Posted by BeitzelSi

VW FINALLY made the inside look nice!! I was tired of VW's interiors looking like they were fit for a 10 year old.

lol....

this is the current gen r32...fit for a ten year old....try again...go sit inside a current gen r32 or gti and tell me what you think...it's a different class from our si...I'll tell you that much.

[GTIWV]

Originally Posted by BeitzelSi

VW FINALLY made the inside look nice!! I was tired of VW's interiors looking like they were fit for a 10 year old.

have you even looked in a new VW since 2006?


I love the MK6. the front is just soo sick. im really waiting to see what they do with the performance model, i heard they were not gonna do the R32. so its hard to tell what they will do

[Nakagaki]

I never really liked the MK5. It was just so round and "minivan-ish". Interior was great tho with AB package.