AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that the four-door 2006 Rabbit has been named a "Top Safety Pick-Silver" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the latest in a series of accolades for the exceptional safety designed into Volkswagen models. Earlier this year, the IIHS named the 2006 Jetta a "Top Safety Pick- Silver."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also recognized the safety and performance for the 2006 and 2007 four-door Volkswagen Rabbit, Jetta, and Passat, giving them all four stars for driver and passenger frontal crash protection. The Rabbit and Jetta earned five stars for driver and rear passenger side crash protection and the Passat earned five stars for the driver and four stars for the rear passenger side crash protection.

The 2006 Passat carries a "Top Safety Pick-Silver" designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and earned the top performance rating in both the front and side impact tests conducted by the Institute.

"Safety is implicit in Volkswagen engineering," said Adrian Hallmark, executive vice president, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "Our philosophy is to bring the most effective active and passive safety technology to the widest range of models, at a moderate price."

Advanced passive and active safety equipment is standard on all Volkswagens -- including driver and front passenger front and side thorax airbag supplemental restraint system, Side Curtain Protection®, rear passenger side thorax only (available as a $350 option on the Jetta, Passat, and four-door Rabbit), rear crash optimized head restraints, Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and three-point safety belts for all seating positions. Front seat belts use pre-tensioners with load limiters to optimize occupant protection.

Contributing to Volkswagen's reputation as an innovative leader in safety is equipment that can help avoid accidents in the first place, such as four- wheel disc ABS brakes coupled with an Engine Braking Assist system (EBA). An electro-mechanical power steering system can help assist with straight-ahead driving adjustments. Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) is an active safety item that independent research shows is an increasing vital safety feature. Anti-Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Electronic Brake- pressure Distribution and Hydraulic Brake Assist are additional available features that help to keep drivers and passengers safe.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Jetta, GTI, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Touareg and Phaeton through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers.