2008 VW Jetta TDI spotted in the US!
We feel bad for Volkswagen. It deserves credit for quietly selling diesel-powered vehicles in the U.S. and for decades offering customers the benefits of an extra long range and ample torque. Finally the feds wise up and regulate high-polluting sulfur right out of our diesel fuel, and in the process make it impossible for VW to sell its current lineup of TDI models that don't meet the new emissions standards. So for 2007 there is no Jetta, Rabbit or Beetle TDI models being sold by Volkswagen.But here it is! The 2008 Jetta TDI, spotted at the AltWheels festival in Boston. In order to meet the new emissions standards in the U.S., Volkswagen developed a new 2.0-liter diesel engine that is clean enough for 50-state certification without the use of urea injection, which is no small feat. It does so by extensively treating exhaust gases with catalysts and particulate filters. The engine develops 140 horsepower and a robust 240 ft-lbs. of twist.
The demonstration model was also decidedly upmarket with a nav system in the dash, leather-like seats, GTI-style projector headlights and rather large upgraded multi-spoke wheels. Exciting stuff as we're eager for VW to get back into the business of leading the diesel charge in the U.S.
[Source: TDIclub]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Bill 8:54PM (2/12/2008)
OK had to add my comments since the VW drubbers are being slammed. Had an 03 jetta TDI, and went through 3 recalls, failed water pump, failed fuel pump (leaked EveryWhere), intermittent tail light failure (pulled over TWICE by teh cops for this, VW could never fix as it didn't happen anytime it was at the dealer), VW's RoadSide ASSistance could not find me, on INTERSTATE 79; took em SEVEN hours to get a wrecker out to me;
This machine was in the Shop more than ALL the new cars I have owned (Subaru WRX, Ford Ranger XLT, Ford Focus ZX2, Ford Focus ZX3, Honda Element and MiniCooper S (last two I still have)) - COMBINED!!
It got to the point that on my rare day off I was always spending it in the damn dealership. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED this car and am in fact here as I'd like to get one again, if they get it right and reliable. But quality problems are and were endemic - and if you deny this you are simply obtuse.
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chris 4:59AM (4/27/2008)
I own a 98 tdi Jetta with 200k and it gets 40mpg still... I've pre-ordered my 08 from Darcy Volkswagen in Illinois... Its pretty much once they get it in you get what they have... no picking or choosing.. they expect a 2 day turn time from transport to deliver.... Too bad about the BS emissions standards causing problems... Ill be cutting off the cat converters once its out of warranty anyway.
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Keith 8:47AM (9/23/2006)
Bravo VW! At least you have the b#lls to sell such a awesome engine in the USA!
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Randall Halcomb 9:51AM (9/23/2006)
What really drives me crazy is that for the time being, the UNITED STATES has stricter emission controls on diesels than europe. And all these new urea-based particulate control systems are going to add even more to the cost of diesels, when they're already more expensive. Its like the government doesn't want us to drive diesels. This drives me up the wall!
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mike 9:55AM (9/23/2006)
Too bad the car is such junk!! Engine will be running with nothing left of the rest of the car.
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Andy 10:36AM (9/23/2006)
Some of the best diesels in Europe unable to be driven in the U.S? That's very amusing...
What's the price of diesel in the U.S anyway?
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UK-KID 10:08AM (9/23/2006)
Mike
Do you own One ???
How do you know it is Junk ???
I guess it is easier to critisize blindly as opposed to actually doing some research or asking vehicle Owners.
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Rory 11:01AM (9/24/2006)
Now if they can make the cars reliable! The diesel might be a good engine. The gas ones are not. my best friend has had three engines, the fuel injection,computer, window motor, gauge cluster all replaced in her Jetta. Good thing there is a huge warranty. Her cost was time off from work, rental cars for weeks at a time and being scared to drive the car anywhere.
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Nick R 10:14AM (9/23/2006)
No, it is junk. VW should be ashamed, their quality is horrendous and their service is worse. If people buy their cars without research, that's one thing, but if they do it after reading the internet sites (there's a VW Lemon site) and Consumer Reports, they deserve what they get.
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Ken 2:01PM (11/11/2007)
A person can,t address a comment if there is no grounds .I believe it,s a question of experience or maybe a person has none.I,ve worked hands on since 83 and have seen a miracle occuring.We should be very thankful seeing what has been produced here in North America
Nick R 10:42AM (9/23/2006)
I think it varies on location and time of year. Here in CT it seems to be slightly more than regular now. In the winter it looked to be 15% more expensive than premium, I hear that's due to heating oil demand driving up diesel costs.
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Andy 11:07AM (9/23/2006)
VW Cars and those under the VW group are some of the most high quality vehicles you can get...
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MikeW 10:50AM (9/23/2006)
Those projector would be from the GLi.
How much power did the old diesel really make, more than the old rating of 99hp, considering VW added electric power steering and the car now has a huge front mount intercooler. I'd hope that this engine would outpower the short lived Passat Tdi, maybe they will be able to keep the Borg-Warner DualTronic on such a torquey engine.
Too bad about the red turn signals though, and the loss the positive signaling brake lights, and the three LEDs on the mirror to replace a quality lateral turn signal repeater.
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Cosmo Kramer 11:25AM (9/23/2006)
First, I just read a few weeks ago that VW wasn't able to meet all 50 states. NY, Cali, Mass and two other states weren't met due to their overly high diesel emissions standards. Maybe that changed..
2nd, I am boggled by the 140 hp 240 lb torque derived from their engine. In comparison the Honda Civic makes 140hp/118 lbs and the accord v6 244hp/211 lbs.
I can't wait to see what Honda does with their diesel. Honda really needs a car that has some low end torque because their VTEC isn't particularly useful in city driving.
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Simone 11:26AM (9/23/2006)
50-state legal. We've heard that promise from other manufacturers before. By the time they hit the showrooms, they'll only be 45-state legal.
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Richard 11:31AM (9/23/2006)
VW does not stand by its cars. Look at this weeks article on thebostonchannel.com (TV 5 in Boston).
I have owned six Jettas. They handle like a sports car, but spend too much time in the shop!
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goat 11:50AM (9/23/2006)
I think this will be 50-state legal, because the E320 BLUETEC came very, very close to being certified, and this engine is two-thirds the displacement.
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asurroca 11:32AM (9/23/2006)
I seem to remember another 2.0l TDI that makes 140 hp and 240 tq: the 2.0 TDI under the hood of my Passat. :P I wonder if this CRD TDI is a modified version of the regular 2.0TDI the Passat had from MY 2004-2006.
Reading further into the TDIclub thread, one of the guys managed to talk to a VW rep who quoted 40 MPG city, 60 MPG highway (real-world, not EPA); that's a significant bump.
Since this is replacing the underpowered 1.9l TDI that live in the Beetle, Golf, and Jetta, then shall we assume the Passat will get a larger, perhaps V6 TDI under the hood for MY08 or MY09? I certainly hope so.
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snakesausage 11:39AM (9/23/2006)
Well mike, this may be anecdotal I own a Jetta TDI and I have had NO problems as of yet. It has over 100,000 miles and still runs strong and clean (compared to my 84 Mercedes 300TD diesel).
I think that it would be logical to change the emissions standards in stages:
1. ULSD should be available for at least two years before changing the exhaust regulations to allow ALL of the tanks at the fuel stations to be cleared of the LSD.
2. Particulate matter filters should be next because this is the next most dangerous emission from diesel, two years after ULSD.
3. Last should be the NOx reduction, two years after PM filters.
But no one ever said that the EPA is logical.
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Dr. Woo 11:42AM (9/23/2006)
I love my problem-free (knock on wood) GTI and would definitely buy a VW diesel as a primary car if for some reason I had to relegate the GTI to weekend duty. Though I'd probably make it a Passat.
Here's my ideal setup...an A4 that looks like this:
http://media.autobild.de/bild/A/1d47c5b18d4bbda7222608dc731c7a8a_1.jpg
http://media.autobild.de/bild/6/6b6be16e51e149c0a600733fd0e0fcb6_1.jpg
With a performance Diesel V6 and DSG.
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