Autoblog

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street edition arrives in January

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST

2010 VW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

When we were in Germany last month for the launch of the 2010 Golf, VW product planner Andres Valbuena told us that a special street replica of the Jetta TDI Cup race car would be launching in January 2010. We just got the first photo of the new limited edition model along with further details. The TDI Cup "Street" edition gets the same deeper front fascia, rocker panel and rear bumper extensions used on the race cars. Unfortunately, the replica keeps the standard 140-horsepower engine rather the uprated 170-hp diesel used in the track cars... but it does get some functional upgrades.

The replica won't be any quicker off the line, but it will stop and turn better than standard TDI models. The brake calipers are larger than standard and painted red to let observers know they are special. The suspension gets thicker sway bars and the retuned springs and dampers from the Jetta GLI along with 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Cup car gets a paddle shift steering wheel to go with the 6-speed DSG gearbox. The Cup Jetta starts at $25,000 and will be available in January.

Gallery: Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street edition arrives in January

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street edition arrives in January originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Inside Line presides over the battle of the fuel sippers

Chris Shunk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos, Ford, Honda, Mini, Toyota, Volkswagen, Diesel

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Fuel efficiency has finally moved to the forefront of many consumers' minds after 2008's record fuel price spike and demand is higher than ever for miser-mobiles. Several vehicles have benefited from the green car movement, and the Inside Line crew corralled three hybrids, a diesel and a supersized go-kart in the ultimate test of fuel economy prowess.

The Toyota Prius, Mini Cooper, Honda Insight, Ford Fusion and VW Jetta TDI were assembled to compete for the best fuel economy in city, highway and back road driving. IL also measured the cost to fuel each vehicle and the amount of CO₂ each emitted during the test. The five vehicles were prepped to do battle, but ultimately it wasn't much of a fight.

The Toyota Prius won every conceivable category by a significant margin with amazingly similar fuel economy between 47 and 48 mpg in all driving tests. The Prius also took on all comers in regards to carbon emissions as the symbol of green motoring spewed .08 fewer pounds of pollutants during the test than the second place Honda Insight. Hit the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Inside Line]

VIDEO: Inside Line presides over the battle of the fuel sippers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW forecasts 30% of 2010 Golf sales in U.S. will be for TDI

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Volkswagen

VW Golf VI - Click for a high-res image gallery

Volkswagen has a major success on its hands with the latest Jetta TDI. Not only has the fuel efficient machine managed to take home nearly every green car award known to man, it's also been selling in numbers well over its initial sales goal. When the German automaker launched the diesel sedan, it had estimated that about 20% of all units sold would be equipped with an oil-burning engine. In reality, about half of all wagons sold have the TDI mill and about 30% of sedans are so equipped.

For this reason, VW is now expecting that 30% of all 2010 Golf hatchbacks will be sold with the automaker's 2.0L turbocharged diesel engine when it goes on sale in the U.S. later this year. Interestingly, fellow German automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have not seen this kind of success with their latest diesel engines. We imagine that the low price of the Jetta TDI in comparison to its gasoline-powered siblings may have plenty to do with its strong sales numbers.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf VI

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

VW forecasts 30% of 2010 Golf sales in U.S. will be for TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

John Neff — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Volkswagen, Reviews

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

The car as we know it is being redefined. Hybrids have reintroduced electrons to the driving experience, and the rumble, shake and shimmy of the internal combustion engine is being muffled and, in some cases, even silenced by cars like the Toyota Prius, 2011 Chevy Volt and Tesla Roadster.

For us to continue harnessing the energy of combustion under our hoods, we need to go much further on a gallon of fuel. Enter Volkswagen and the diesel-powered passenger cars it's been selling in the U.S. since the late '70s, the latest of which is the 2009 Jetta TDI. Follow the jump to find out how VW's newest diesel fares against the electrified future of the automobile.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Continue reading Review: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Review: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2008: Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition Street Concept so close to production

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Motorsports, SEMA Show, Tuners, Sedan, Volkswagen, Specialty

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Jetta TDI Edition Street Concept

The Jetta TDI Cup Series did so well this year that Volkswagen is expanding the series from eight to ten races next year. And now non-racers may have a chance to live the diesel racing dream, and if they do, it will look very similar to the Jetta TDI Cup Edition Street Concept unveiled at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas today. The diesel-powered sport sedan gets upgraded sway bars and brakes from the Euro-spec Jetta GLI and a "European sport-tuned suspension", along with some cosmetic enhancements like a three-spoke steering wheel, sill plates, and Interlagos sport seats. This is one of those, "If we get the right response we'll might make it" deals, but VW is so open to producing this sport version of the Jetta TDI that it even has a price point already established: under $30,000. So have look at the high-res gallery of images below and let VW know what you think. We say build it.

Gallery: SEMA 2008: VW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition Concept

Continue reading SEMA 2008: Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition Street Concept so close to production

SEMA 2008: Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition Street Concept so close to production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW Jetta TDI sets Guinness World Record of 58.82 mpg

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Volkswagen

The VW Jetta TDI has proven to be quite popular in the short time it's been on sale here in the U.S.: it has put sales of the Tiguan in the cooler and the ones that are available are very hard to get. Now the fairest Jetta of them all has set a Guinness World Record by traversing the lower 48 U.S. states while returning 58.82 mpg thanks to John and Helen Taylor.

The Taylors took 20 days to cover the 9,419 miles in a counter clockwise direction, and this wasn't a hypermiling slow-as-you-can-go affair - they stayed within 5 mph of the speed limit. Their car was completely stock as it consumed just 11 tanks of ultra low sulfur diesel and traveled 853 miles per fill up. With that kind of mileage and handling high up on the fun factor, the Jetta TDI makes an excellent case for itself if you like driving and want to lower your fuel consumption.

VW also recently told us that the go-fast Jetta TDIs in the TDI Cup Series are returning an average of 25 mpg and doing their entire 7-race series on just two tanks of gas, which includes qualifying. If that's true, there's got to be another world record in there somewhere...

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

VW Jetta TDI sets Guinness World Record of 58.82 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The gauntlet is thrown: VW Jetta TDI vs. Toyota Prius

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Toyota, Volkswagen

Clean diesel or hybrid drive? It's an intriguing question, and one that's not quite so easy to answer. There's the price of diesel fuel to consider, which runs a few dimes over that of regular gasoline. Then there is fuel mileage. Does the Volkswagen Jetta TDI have a shot at dethroning the Toyota Prius as the undisputed mileage champion of the U.S.? To get a preliminary answer to some of these questions, Popular Mechanics put almost 500 miles on both cars, dividing up their miles between the city and the highway. It's not a knock-out for either car, but it may offer some early answers to a few questions.

First, the mileage. In the city, there's just no beating a hybrid, which uses its electric motor to good effect and scores over ten mpg better in the stop-and-go traffic of Los Angeles. On the highway, though, the Jetta TDI is able to eke out a narrow victory, scoring less than one mile per gallon better. Once the price of crude is factored in, the Prius remains the overall cheaper car to keep filled up. Of course, there is more to the story than that, including which car is a better to drive -- according to PM, the Jetta. Finally, the TDI qualifies for a $1,300 tax credit that the Prius can't claim. It's too close to call. Expect a rematch soon enough.

Read our First Drive of the 2009 VW Jetta TDI and full review of the Toyota Prius to see what we think.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

The gauntlet is thrown: VW Jetta TDI vs. Toyota Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Volkswagen, First Drive

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Cick above for high-res image gallery

The state of California has the toughest vehicle emissions regulations in the world in its LEV II (and the corresponding national Tier 2 Bin 5) standards. Those rules treat all engine types the same regardless of what fuel they use. It doesn't matter if the engine runs on gasoline, diesel or cow dung, the emissions standards are the same. These rules are so tight that no manufacturer has been able to sell light-duty passenger vehicles powered by diesel engines in California and four other states for the last several years. That's all about to change beginning with last month's sales launch of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The Jetta TDI is the first new diesel-powered car to meet the tough T2B5 standards, and it's fitting that VW invited us out to the birthplace of these emissions regulations to drive it. We spent a day driving the Jetta TDI in and around Santa Monica to gauge whether it has the right balance of Fahrvergnügen and low fuel consumption to be a viable alternative to cars like the Prius, Civic and Focus. Continue after the jump to find out more.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW Rabbit TDI confirmed for next fall, no diesel Tiguan

Michael Harley — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Crossover, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Click on the image above for our high-res gallery of the Golf VI

Volkswagen officials gave Autoblog some insight into their new model roll-out plans when we met with them earlier this week at the media drive for the new 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. First into showrooms will be the 3.0-liter Touareg TDI, scheduled to start production in Mid-February 2009. It will followed by the MK VI GTI, based on the new Golf making its debut at the Paris Motor Show next month. The 2.5-liter Rabbit (gas) and 2.0-liter Rabbit TDI (diesel) will follow in the fall. Absent from VW's diesel lineup is the Tiguan. Larger and heavier than the compact cars currently utilizing the 2.0-liter TDI, the engine would need an urea injection to meet emission standards -- and the crossover wasn't designed with a storage tank in mind. Sorry diesel fans, the Tiguan will be sitting this one out for a while.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf VI

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

VW Rabbit TDI confirmed for next fall, no diesel Tiguan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW and its dealers butting heads over Jetta TDI?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Wagon, Green, Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen

We recently received a note from an anonymous source indicating that there's a mildly strained relationship between VW and some of its dealers. The source of the consternation seems to be the highly anticipated Jetta TDI, which was just recently released in the U.S. market. Apparently, Volkswagen of America has gotten complaints that some dealers are adding a significant markup on the new and desirable model -- a big problem for many automakers when a new model makes its initial introduction. The dealers are eager to make some money on the new cars while VW is concerned that customers may just look elsewhere because they feel they're being treated unfairly. What's more, some VW dealers may not be all that excited by the new model as there aren't that many available quite yet.

This is a situation that's frustrating for the dealers, VW and, most importantly, prospective customers. Volkswagen promises that the situation will improve, and we hope it does. If the clean diesel engine is truly capable of returning the kind of fuel mileage that VW says it can, the Jetta TDI sedan and Sportwagen may indeed offer an ideal alternative to gasoline-sipping hybrids, that is, if customers can put up with the buying process.

VW and its dealers butting heads over Jetta TDI? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diesel rush begins: VW Jetta TDI now being delivered

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Wagon, Green, Volkswagen

Lovers of both fuel mileage and torque can finally rest easy; Volkswagen of America is now officially selling its 50-State-approved, clean diesel engine in either the Jetta sedan for $21,990 or Jetta SportWagen wrappers for $23,590. Equipped with the six-speed DSG transmission, both Jetta gets an EPA rating of 29 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on the highway. We expect to see better real-world numbers, though we're a bit wary of VW's advertising its alternate rating of 38/44 -- a number that is impossible to compare with anything else currently available. In any case, the $2,000 premium for the TDI engine will be lessened somewhat by the Fed's $1,300 tax credit which applies to either TDI model. Look for an early test of the oil-burner on these pages shortly.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Diesel rush begins: VW Jetta TDI now being delivered

Diesel rush begins: VW Jetta TDI now being delivered originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #99

Dan Roth — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Spy Photos, Green, Celebrities

Jeremy, Chris, and Dan push us right up to the cusp of three digits with Autoblog Podcast #99. The topics are wide and varied, such as motorcycles in the Autoblog Garage, the Acura NSX on the 'Ring, and Volkswagen's semi-bogus third-party fuel economy numbers. Some people thought last week's 'cast was too short, so this week, we fill an hour. Now for those of you who think this is too long, we really are trying to please everybody. See you next week for the epic extravaganza of Podcast #100. We're still taking suggestions, too -- hit us up at podcast at autoblog dotte comme.

SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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Autoblog Podcast #99 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen prices 2009 Jetta TDI from $21,990

John Neff — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Green, Volkswagen

Volkswagen revealed today that $21,990 will be the base price for its highly anticipated 2009 Jetta TDI, while the Sportwagen model will start at $23,590. This is extremely aggressive pricing on the part of Volkswagen that places the Jetta TDI in direct competition with the Toyota Prius, as eco-minded shoppers will surely cross-shop the two.

The TDI model will be the equivalent of the SE trim level for gas-powered Jettas. A 2009 Jetta SE 2.5L manual sedan starts at $19,990, which tells us that the high-tech, 50-state-compliant clean diesel engine is worth about a $2,000 premium. The Jetta TDI will, however, be available with either a manual or DSG transmission.

The EPA recently rated the 2009 Jetta TDI at 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway, which were disappointing numbers for Volkswagen. It has since hired an independent, third-party certifier, AMCI, to ascertain what it refers to as the Jetta's "true fuel economy". AMCI came back with a better rating (surprise!) of 38 mpg city and 44 mpg highway. Whether or not you think it's fair for Volkswagen to go around the EPA in search of a higher fuel economy rating, we were just as surprised at how low the EPA numbers were. We're eager to get one in the Autoblog Garage ASAP for a review so we can test its "true fuel economy" for ourselves.

[Source: VW]

Continue reading Volkswagen prices 2009 Jetta TDI from $21,990

Volkswagen prices 2009 Jetta TDI from $21,990 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One down, six to go for the VW Jetta TDI Cup

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Volkswagen

Click above for high-res gallery of race action from Jetta TDI Cup

The first race of the first all-diesel, road racing series in America took place this past weekend at VIRginia International Raceway, and we were there, or rather AutoblogGreen was there, to watch it go down. The gorgeous VIR long course proved to be a great setting for the opening round of Volkswagen's new Jetta TDI Cup series. The new series is both a continuation of VW's history of grassroots racing, as well as promotion for the new Jetta TDI that launches this summer. Volkswagen had an open casting call earlier this year for young amateur racing drivers and picked the 30 best to run in the promotional series. Prior to arriving at VIR for Friday's first practice, the drivers had one day of actual running in the Jettas during the driver selection process at the beginning of April. Though the Jetta TDI race cars were slightly modified from their production counterpart for safety reasons, they still managed to return 25 mpg... while racing.

Hit the jump for more...

Gallery: VW Jetta TDI Cup - Race 1

Continue reading One down, six to go for the VW Jetta TDI Cup

One down, six to go for the VW Jetta TDI Cup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen finishes up Jetta BlueTDI development, on sale this summer

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Green, Technology, Volkswagen

The new, fifty-state legal Jetta BlueTDI is finally done and it's coming soon. At the International Vienna Motor Symposium in Austria, Volkswagen announced that it's completed development on what they are calling the BlueTDI system for their US diesels. Like Mercedes (BlueTec) and BMW (BluePerformance), VW is adopting the Blue moniker for their cleanest, most efficient systems. The Jetta BlueTDI will be the first Tier2 Bin5 compliant diesels that doesn't have to use a urea injection system to meet the new NOx emissions standard. VW started with the updated 2.0L TDI that was launched in the European Tiguan last fall. Individual cylinder pressure sensors were added that allow the engine management system to optimize the fuel injection pulses to keep combustion temperatures down. That helped VW eliminate 60-percent of the NOx emissions before you even get to the exhaust stream. The exhaust gas flowing from the 2.0L engine are low enough that VW was able to use a lean NOx trap to convert the remaining NOx to nitrogen and water. However, the larger 3.0L V-6 TDI that is coming in the Touareg and Audi Q7 at the end of the year will have to use urea injection. In addition to the NOx trap, there is a particulate filter to eliminate the soot often associated with diesel engines. The new Jetta will be able to get up to 60mpg when cruising on the highway, a boost of 12-percent over the last US-market Jetta TDI from 2006. The Jetta BlueTDI should be the first of the new round of diesels to come to market when it arrives later this summer. The first batch of cars should actually start arriving at US dealers in June, where they will be available for test drives through the summer before going on sale in September.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen finishes up Jetta BlueTDI development, on sale this summer

Volkswagen finishes up Jetta BlueTDI development, on sale this summer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW adds Jetta Sportwagen, pricing to site

Chris Tutor — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Volkswagen

For those of you impatiently waiting for the VW Jetta Sportwagen, there's something new over at VW.com to keep you busy a few more days. Along with photos of the car inside and out, there are stats, options and a base price that's closer to the true price than the rough estimate we had before. Entry-level price for the anxiously-awaited wagon is $24,500. The site says you get an 8-speaker stereo with aux-in, ABS and traction control for that number.

We assume that's with the 5-speed and 170 hp, 2.5 liter gasoline engine that gets 21 city, 29 highway. Which ain't too bad, actually, but not nearly as good as the mid-50s highway mileage the site brags about for the optional TDI. Sadly, there's no mention of how much you'll pay for ticking the TDI box on the option sheet. Or for the 6-speed Tiptronic or the panoramic sunroof or those sweet-looking leather seats. VW also let slip on the site that the Tiguan will be available this spring. Thanks, Julio, for the tip!

[Source: VW.com]

Gallery: 2008 Jetta Sportwagen First Drive

VW adds Jetta Sportwagen, pricing to site originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW Jetta TSI racer introduced in UK

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:19:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Volkswagen

Click the image above for a gallery of high-res shots of the Jetta TSI Racer.

The chosen chariot for the new Volkswagen Racing Cup is a Jetta sporting a 1.4-liter supercharged and turbocharged TSI producing 226 hp, the same mill that won the Best New Engine of 2006 at the International Engine of the Year Awards. Power is sent though a six-speed manual gearbox to a limited slip differential and on down to 18-inch BBS wheels fitted with 225/40 Hankook tires. Exhaust gases are expelled through a race-spec unit, while slowing the 2,690-pound racer is done through a set of 360mm vented discs with 12-pot calipers.

It's a very trick setup that we can't wait to see campaigned during the 2008 season, so expect some reports from the grid later this year. Make the jump for the official press release.

[Source: VW via OneEightTurbo]

Gallery: Jetta TDI Racer

Continue reading VW Jetta TSI racer introduced in UK

VW Jetta TSI racer introduced in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW Jetta TDI delayed until late summer 2008

John Neff — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Green, Volkswagen

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]

VW Jetta TDI delayed until late summer 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Touareg V10 TDI on sale now in U.S.

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:18:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Volkswagen

When we last talked about the Volkswagen Touareg, we noted the new facelifted fascia, the freshened interior, the addition of ABS Plus, enhanced ESP, and most importantly, the possible addition of the 5.0-liter V10 TDI as an available engine. Despite no firm news on that front, we did see a Jetta TDI tooling around that would meet the new ultra-low particulate emissions standards by using ultra-low sulfur fuel, fueling our hopes that this hot rod oilburner might make it Stateside. The recent adoption of low-sulfur diesel fuel in the States has made all of this possible and today, VW made it official by announcing the 2006 VW Touareg TDI is on sale now (looks like the refreshened 2007/8 model wasn't ready for the new engine).

The Touareg V10 TDI is available in showrooms starting today. The 5.0-liter diesel engine pumps out 310 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 553 lbs-ft of torque at just 2,000 rpm. And the best part is that this high power diesel will consume up to 30 percent less fuel than traditional gasoline engines. The Touareg comes with 4-Motion all-wheel drive, ABS, Anti-slip regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Engine Braking Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Electronic Stabilization Program with brake assist, Hill Descent Assist and Hill Climb Assist. Pricing on the Touareg V10 TDI starts at $67,750, which is surely a steep sum for a mid-size SUV, but this one's kind of special.

Full release and additional photos after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Touareg V10 TDI on sale now in U.S.

Touareg V10 TDI on sale now in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the Autoblog Driveway: 2003 VW Jetta SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil)

John Neff — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:13:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Hybrid, Etc., Green, Volkswagen

One lesser-known movement in green car technology is converting diesels to run on SVO, or Straight Vegetable Oil. Unlike biodiesel, which is produced by chemically modifying vegetable oil so that it can be used in a diesel vehicle with no modifications, SVO requires a second fuel system for the vegetable oil in addition to the standard diesel fuel system. Also, one doesn't operate and fill up an SVO vehicle like a normal petrol or diesel car. It sounds like a lot of work, so why are more and more people kicking up the veggie quotient of their diesels' diet? We decided to look into it.

No automaker offers an SVO-powered vehicle in its line-up, so tapping a press fleet for a quick evaluation was out of the question. Fortunately we stumbled upon Chuck and Tom Norton, a pair of sibs who run Turtle Plastics, an eco-friendly plastics business in Lorain, OH. The Norton boys recently had a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta TDi converted to run on SVO. Though Tom's the primary driver, Chuck was happy to hand over the keys to their "Vega Jet" for a spin last week and helped us understand what it's like to own and operate a vehicle that eats out of a dumpster. Let us explain...

Continue reading In the Autoblog Driveway: 2003 VW Jetta SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil)

In the Autoblog Driveway: 2003 VW Jetta SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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