Sales of the new 2010 Volkswagen Golf (MkVI) are picking up pace all around the country and considering the car’s solid feel, classy styling and German engineering, it’s easy to understand why. Oh, did we mention that it’s also available with a dual clutch transmission and a frugal turbodiesel engine that returns more than 40 mpg on the highway?
It’s little wonder the Golf is such a sales success all around the world--but in a country that prefers sedans over hatchbacks, there’s one very important model in the Volkswagen lineup that’s yet to be released. Sales of the new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta sedan are just around the corner but the car has been revealed today at a special event in Times Square, New York.
At 182.7 inches long, the new car is 3.5 inches longer than the old one. Height is 57.1 inches and width is 70.1 inches. The gain in length translates into a 2.6-inch gain in rear legroom, now up to 38.1 inches.
Four engines will be available in North American markets--a 2.0-liter TDI diesel, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, a 2.5-liter five-cylinder gasoline engine (R5 models), and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TSI (turbocharged/supercharged combo) gasoline engine. Power numbers aren't available, except for Volkswagen’s claim of 236 pound-feet of torque from the TDI, which will have common-rail fuel-injection. A manual transmission will be standard, and an automatic will be available. TDI and TSI models will be available with the automaker’s brilliant six-speed dual clutch Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG).
Trim levels are as follows: S, SE, SEL, TDI, and 2.0-liter GLI.
Inside, the new Jetta offers top level comfort and features. The instruments are ideally arranged. The new steering wheel designs (optionally with multifunction keys) are impressive and the rear seat will be a 40/60 split-folding unit.
Volkswagen has little to say about safety features, other than the car will be available with up to six airbags when it goes on sale. Speaking of which, the on-sale date is this October, and the starting price will be around $16,000.
[Volkswagen]
