When Volkswagen unveiled its new 50 state-certified Jetta 2.0L Clean Diesel TDI back in January, the company line was that the car would be available in the spring of 2008. We've been impatiently waiting because we're excited by the prospect of diesel engines penetrating the U.S. market again, and no other vehicle could do more for the cause than the relatively inexpensive Jetta TDI. Now comes word from the TDI Club forums that the diesel sedan will be further delayed until late summer 2008 because of a "technical issue that was found during the later stages of durability testing."
The news comes via an email sent by VW to its dealers, who are reportedly disappointed that they'll have to wait even longer for this highly anticipated car. Brandweek cites one dealer who claims that three out of every five calls he receives is about the Jetta TDI.
The fact is, the U.S. now has the strictest emissions standards for diesel powerplants, and if an automaker wants to sell its diesel-powered vehicle in all 50 states, it has to meet the even stricter standards set forth by the California Air Resources Board. The complexity that must be involved to achieve this feat is likely considerable, especially without the use of a urea injection system. Hopefully, it'll be worth the wait.
[Source: TDI Club via Brandweek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tim UF @ Nov 8th 2007 3:49PM
This is highly disappointing. The worst thing about this announcement is that it will stoke the hype, and inflate dealer markups even more. if VW was smart (meaning they do what i want them to ;-) ), they'd mandate a fixed price for this vehicle to their dealers. But they won't.
Mal Fuller @ Nov 8th 2007 4:38PM
I believe the durability testing that surprises you is testing that is mandated as a part of complying with the emission standards where a car must remain in compliance for a specified number of miles.
In this case the new TDI didn't pass the durability aspect of the emission test, just as they apparently didn't meet the expectations that you once had for your new VW.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 8th 2007 5:41PM
I agree, Mal. I didn't want to say it myself, because of my rep of being that guy who blasts on Diesel all the time.
But making tier 2, bin 5 emissions is nip and tuck for manufacturers right now, and likely they found as the car ages the emissions get out of spec. Time for some reengineering.
Alex @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:05PM
agree, very interested in the car not interested in a bid frenzy..another racket on the making for the masses..cause this vehicle is for the concerned/budgeted buyers right?, a used one goes for high 20's in my area..this babies will go for the 30's..what will be the point then?
why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 8th 2007 3:58PM
VW has durability testing? Must be new since my car was built.
Jim in Tampa @ Nov 8th 2007 4:29PM
I was wondering the same thing!
Kumar @ Nov 8th 2007 4:11PM
Hmmm....
Sounds like Subaru may have diesels in the US market before VW does again.
That aside, this is bad bad news for VW.
The best way for them to salvage this is to partner with the new Chrysler on small diesel engines. Then they could make money on licensing, and chrysler could help crank out engines for them (yeah yeah, they're at least marginally more reliable than VW lately, but we'll take what we can get)
mmm....Caliber diesel in the US....
Dave in MI @ Nov 8th 2007 4:17PM
How bad is a problem that VW would delay anything?
Jesse @ Nov 8th 2007 4:20PM
Well that blows. I was actually thinking of getting a TDI Jetta. The wait until Spring was unbearable, I'm not sure if I can wait until Summer; I need to upgrade to a manual transmission asap. The performance numbers looked like they'd match my Mazda 3 and give me an insane range on a single tank of gas which would have been nice.
Mal Fuller @ Nov 8th 2007 4:28PM
Does this mean that VW's plan to overtake Toyota in sales will be delayed too? Imagine that.
John @ Nov 8th 2007 4:44PM
The thing I don't understand is if CA has the strictest standards, why is black smoke spewing from all the diesel big rigs on our clogged highways. Pennywise and pound foolish to me.
Can't wait for the Honda Accord diesel. With diesels getting up to 90mpg in Europe and Billary wanting 50mpg standards, intro'ng diesels in the US can't come soon enough. Hope nissan decides to rebadge some Citroen diesel C's in the US...before gas hits $4/gallon in 2008.
Val @ Nov 8th 2007 7:03PM
Nissan is in partnership with renault, not citroen, and renault hasn't announced any plans of using urea or some other tech. A diesel maxima is coming, but probably in 2010.
oitbug @ Nov 8th 2007 5:06PM
Politicians piss and moan about our dependence on foreign oil and fleet MPG, meanwhile an unlimited number of sulfuric acid producing, soot spewing big rigs are allowed on the highways. Meanwhile this oil sipping 4-banger has to produce 100% pure oxygen out the tail pipe to get approved.
…nothing better than a country full of hypocrites
Guenther @ Nov 8th 2007 7:41PM
Cant spew sulfuric acid if there's next to no sulfur in the fuel ;P
RAS @ Nov 8th 2007 5:18PM
kind of a buzzkill though as diesel is about 45 cents higher per gallon than 87 octane here in Houston.
chuck goolsbee @ Nov 8th 2007 5:39PM
Who actually BUYS Diesel fuel? Us smart folks just make our own.
Oh, and sorry guys I have my TDI and no, you can't buy it. 115,000+ trouble free miles, more than half on homebrew, and average of 50 MPG.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
Farris @ Nov 8th 2007 6:00PM
Even though diesel is more expensive (it's about the same here in Eastern Washington: 3.10 for RUG, 3.65 for DZL), when you get double the MPG of the same car as a gasser, it doesn't matter.
My 1.9 litre TDI Beetle gets about 45 mpg on average, whereas a Beetle with a 2.5 litre gas motor gets 25 mpg (I think... I'm too lazy to go look it up right now). Diesel would have to be 5.58 for me to be paying the same $ per mile.
Just a thought.
Not to mention I get to listen to my turbo wheelin' a way! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooooo
why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 8th 2007 10:43PM
How about comparing it to a car with equivalent performance?
Zerk @ Nov 8th 2007 5:20PM
John, CA is voter foolish and constituent ignorant.
The reason big rigs emit smoke is that the strict standards are for cars and light trucks, not commercial vehicles. CARB is completely without logic in their attempt to reduce emissions.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 8th 2007 5:39PM
CARB is not completely without logic. They not only require particulate filters on Diesel trucks in California, but they required retrofitting them to older trucks. This is far more strict than what they do with cars, where a car is never expected to perform better (in terms of emissions) than the date upon which it was built.
I agree some trucks still seem to belch smoke, I can only say that I guess enforcement isn't good enough.