Autoblog

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.

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...


Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

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]