Volkswagen Fox - Volkswagen Fox in The US

Volkswagen Fox in The US

The Fox was a variant of the Gol manufactured by Volkswagen do Brasil and marketed by Volkswagen in North America as an entry level subcompact from 1987 to 1993. Initially offered as a two-door and four-door sedan as well as a two-door wagon, the wagon was discontinued in 1991 along with the two-door for the Canadian market, the same year the four-door sedan (as well as the two-door, in the US) received a mild restyling.

The Fox featured a longitudinal mounted 1.8L, 81 PS (60 kW; 80 hp) 4-cylinder gasoline engine, sharing components with the VW Golf — along with a 4-speed transmission for the standard 2- and 4-door sedan and a 5-speed transmission for the "GL" sport model — and no automatic transmission. Braking was power assisted with discs up front and drum brakes on the rear wheels.

According to the U.S. EPA the 4-speed version averaged 24 mpg (9.8 L/100 km; 29 mpg) on the new combined driving cycle with the 5-speed transmission able to produce 23 mpg (10 L/100 km; 28 mpg) on the new driving cycle. Under the old test protocol the VW Fox was able to produce 26 mpg (9.0 L/100 km; 31 mpg) with the 5-speed transmission and 27 mpg (8.7 L/100 km; 32 mpg) with the 4-speed transmission.

Early models (1987–1989) featured the Bosch CIS-E also known as KE-Jetronic electro-mechanical fuel injection, using an oxygen sensor to assist in fuel management. Later models featured (1990–1993) Bosch Digifant electronic fuel injection. In Canada the Fox from 1987 to 1989 was offered with the simpler Bosch CIS fuel injection (K-Jetronic) without an oxygen sensor for the engine fuel management system.

Originally, the Fox's squared off front end featured sealed beam halogen headlamps; after 1991 models received revised sheet metal with flush glass headlamps. Volkswagen did not sell a subcompact car again in Canada until 2007, when they offered the Volkswagen City Golf and Volkswagen City Jetta.

In South Africa, the Volkswagen Fox was a model based on the original Jetta, but featuring the front end of the Citi, a facelifted version of the original Golf Mk 1, which was in production in South Africa until late 2009.

In the United States and Australia the Audi 80 was badged as the Audi Fox during the 1970s. The Australian version was assembled locally by Volkswagen Australasia Ltd.