Video: VW Zombie Rabbit is focus of latest Depth of Speed vid

Filed under: Classics, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Design/Style

There are many aspects of the Depth of Speed video series worth loving. The beautiful cinematography, moving soundtrack and gorgeous vehicles all combine to make for some compelling clips. But for us, the real attraction is how accurately the filmmakers capture the relationship between vehicle owners and their machines. Take Joel Erkkinen and his wild Mk1 Volkswagen Rabbit, for example. What started as a $400 potential Grassroots Motorsports Challenge entry for 2008 evolved into an all-consuming passion.

Having never built a car before, the Rabbit served as Erkkinen's schoolroom when it came time to cut out old rust and weld in new metal. While the Minnesota native had toyed with later generation Rabbit models previously, going back to the Mk1 required a bit of a learning curve. Fortunately, he found himself surrounded by helping hands.

"The VW community here in the Twin Cities is really friendly and inviting," Erkkinen tells Autoblog. "I had people I didn't even know want to come over and help just because they saw my thread on VWVortex."

The Zombie Rabbit slowly transformed from a clapped-out heap into a turbocharged widebody terror thanks to the knowledge and guidance of that community. But it's Erkkinen's attention to detail and eye for style that make the car what it is.

Unable to find a suitable material for the steering wheel cover, Erkkinen scrounged up an old leather jacket from a thrift store and set to cutting his own pattern and stitching the hide by hand. He did the same for the Corbeau Forza seats, covering the race buckets in fabric with custom embroidered Zombie Rabbit emblems.

Check out the video below as well as the gallery for a closer look at the resurrected bunny. You can also take a peek at the full modification list. Still hungry? Check out the full build thread over at VWVortex.

Continue reading VW Zombie Rabbit is focus of latest Depth of Speed vid

VW Zombie Rabbit is focus of latest Depth of Speed vid originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford says Sync is now in 4 million vehicles, takes a moment to talk up Focus Electric

Since its debut in 2007, Ford and Microsoft's Sync infotainment system has made its way into several of the auto maker's models, including the 2012 Focus Electric. At this week's Future in Review tech conference, Ford announced that more than 4 million vehicles in the US have its entertainment platform on board. In addition to dropping that stat, the company talked up its new EV, which it says can charge in half the time it takes for the Nissan Leaf. Maybe Ford caught wind of Nissan's just-announced e-NV200 all-electric van and wanted to remind those in the market for an EV that a blue box isn't the only option.

Continue reading Ford says Sync is now in 4 million vehicles, takes a moment to talk up Focus Electric

Ford says Sync is now in 4 million vehicles, takes a moment to talk up Focus Electric originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 May 2012 01:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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