Jetting around the world
- Published: 18/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Motoring
Latest saloon from Europe's number one player shows that it's taking the Japanese seriously.
- Styling & Packaging
Volkswagen has introduced the all-new Jetta in New York this week and hopes to make the C-segment saloon a worthy competitor to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Much of the Jetta's design has been inspired by the NCC Coupe Concept shown in Detroit last January.
As VW knows that Americans love cars with lots of interior space _ just as in Thailand _ the Jetta is now longer than before, its rear legroom up by 67mm over the fifth-generation predecessor. The Jetta Mk6 is 4,640mm long (up by 90mm) and 2,650mm wheelbase (up 70mm).
Against the Japanese, the Jetta is the longest in overall length, although its wheelbase sits between the Civic (2,700mm) and Corolla (2,600mm). The Jetta is the widest at 1,780mm.
As ever, VW is focusing on interior quality.
Europe's top carmaker stresses that no body parts of the Jetta are shared with the Golf hatchback anymore, although the two share technical underpinnings.
Volkswagen adds that the Jetta's high quality interior will be one selling point over its rivals. There will be three trims like in many of VW's other models: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline, allowing buyers a choice of interior styles.
- Engine & Transmission
There will be a variety of petrol and diesel engines on offer depending on markets. Americans generally get large motors, while Europeans receive downsized variations. They include:
See also:
- 200hp 2.0-litre inline-four turbo-petrol.
- 170hp 2.5-litre inline-five petrol.
- 160hp 1.4-litre inline-four turbo-petrol.
- 105hp 1.2-litre inline-four turbo-petrol.
- 140hp 2.0-litre inline-four turbo-diesel.
- 105hp 1.6-litre inline-four turbo-diesel.
The 2.5-five-pot is only for the US and is the same basic engine as the Audi TT RS, which uses turbochargers to produce a manic 340hp. The most economical engine is the Europe-only 1.6 TDI which can achieve nearly 25kpl via Bluemotion tech.
Three types of gearbox are available: six-speed manual and six-speed/seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
- Market & Pricing
The US and European markets are first to get the Jetta, although it's obvious that it should be following later to Asian markets like China where saloons are a must.
High taxes in Asean mean that VW needs to look at assembly in the region using Afta perks if it wants to sell the Jetta competitively against Honda and Toyota in the sub-B1m corner of the Thai market.
Although sales of the Jetta aren't clearly in sight yet in this part of the world, the car shows that VW is taking the Japanese seriously by lining up cars that can match them in size _ a key demand of American and Asian car buyers alike.
Last week, VW announced its B-segment Polo saloon that will make its world debut in Moscow, Russia in August. And after the C-segment Jetta, VW is said to be preparing a proper D/E-segment saloon in place of the European Passat to take on the Accord and Camry in the US _ which is highly likely to have Thai implications due to an array of engines to choose from, according to sources.
About the author
- Writer: Motoring
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