Autoblog

Report: NHTSA looking at 2009 VW Jetta stalling issues

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Volkswagen, Diesel

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

It's only taken seven filed complaints out of 37,889 vehicles sold, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking a close look at the 2009 VW Jetta TDi regarding sudden stalling. Although only a handful of complaints have come into the NHTSA, a greater number of owners in various forums like VW Vortex, TDIclub.com, and VWDiesel.net have reported the same thing: a loss of power and then the engine cuts out.

Suspicions seem to center on the fuel delivery system or the type of diesel used at the moment. Tales of $10,000 repair estimates have been related, but it's too early to say where the gremlins truly reside, so if you've experienced the issue yourself, get on the horn to NHTSA.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Detroit News]

Report: NHTSA looking at 2009 VW Jetta stalling issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: How low is too low?

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Volkswagen, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

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

My daily driver is lowered. Really low. Like damn-near-touring car low. Almost every car I've owned over the last decade has benefited from some kind of suspension setup that dropped its ride height. Traversing speed-bumps and steep driveways has always been a slow-speed, one-wheel-at-a-time affair for me. But with all these different cars with their low clearances, I've never had as many problems with scraping as I have with our long-term Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition.

The first time it reared its ugly head wasn't in a parking lot or on a curb, but during my initial blast down a favorite backroad. I went into a banked right-hand bend, and as the left suspension loaded up, I heard a faint scraping noise up front. I figured it was a fluke until it happened a second time. Then a third. After the drive, I stopped to scope out the damage and found the paint stripped down to the base coat under the left bumper.

Since then, it's only gotten worse, but it's not the lower fascia that's taking the brunt of the abuse.

There's a small lip on the plastic underbody tray that gets caught on driveways and a marginally steep curbs, and after a few dozen scrapes, the four plastic clips holding it to the bumper are approaching their breaking point. It's not a major issue, but hearing plastic meeting asphalt on a regular basis is enough to make anyone cringe.

As such, I make it a point to reverse into driveways steeper than a few degrees and slowly pull out, careful to drop one wheel, and then the next, when leaving. Yes, this is a sporty sedan. And yes, some concessions need to be made. But with a suspension that's barely lower than a stock TDI, it's the front fascia - and specifically this underbody tray - that's to blame. And considering this is the same kit pulled from VW's TDI racers, a slight modification to the lower valance might have been in order for street duty. While it's more than just eye candy and has been optimized for increased airflow over the standard Jetta, the Cup Street Edition's lower valance must live in the real world, and so far, the real world has left its mark on our long-term tester.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: How low is too low? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recycling Gone Wild: Turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F [w/video]

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST

Smyth Performance G3F concept - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle is the tri-directive that could help us become more sustainable as a society. Soon, a kit for the G3F from Smyth Performance - a new venture by Factory Five Racing co-founder Mark Smith - will follow those guidelines, enabling you to convert a previously-enjoyed Volkswagen Jetta into something you can really look forward to driving. The finished product will be lighter, faster and burn less biodiesel than the original vehicle, offering up to 60 miles per gallon and boasting a very naughty top speed of 140 miles per hour. All for about $10,000 and less than 100 hours of labor.

It's a simple recipe. You start by procuring a TDI diesel Jetta four door sedan. Cut away about 800 lbs of metal, reusing a large chunk of the chassis, including the entire safety structure. The engine gets chipped, modded and moved from in front of the driver to behind. Add the body, seats, wheels and all the other included bits from the kit and voila! You now own a recycled VW that increases your joy of driving while reducing the amount of petroleum product you'll need to pump.

Okay, maybe we're making it sound a little easier than it actually is, but Smith is confident there is enough interest to make a go of it with a line of depositors already being formed. Despite deliveries (optimistically) planned for September, the original prototype is still under construction. The operation doesn't have an official website either - that's coming this fall - but you can follow the progress of both car and company on both Facebook and the unofficial Factory Five forum. Hit the jump for video of Mr. Smith explaining his concept and tell us what you think.

[Source: Boston.com]

Continue reading Recycling Gone Wild: Turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F [w/video]

Recycling Gone Wild: Turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta offers Teutonic titillation for around $16k [w/video]

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:32:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel

2011 Volkswagen Jetta - Click above for high-res image gallery

The sixth-generation 2011 Jetta is a pretty big deal for Volkswagen. The automaker has developed a completely new platform for the new model (instead of simply relying on Golf architecture), and the end result is a car that is 3.5 inches longer than its predecessor. This should mean that much more passenger room will be on deck, enabling the Jetta to really compete within the midsize sedan segment (as well as the compact class). As for the design, it's admittedly a bit predictable, but we're glad to see the Jetta no longer being styled as a Golf sedan. What's more, we can see hints of the NCC concept car from this year's Detroit Auto Show, and while it's not overly sexy, it still looks clean and crisp.

One place where there isn't much news, however, is under the hood. The 2.5-liter inline-five and 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four are carried over from the current car, and we'll see a return of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four for the Jetta GLI. Both manual and automatic transmissions will be on hand, including Volkswagen's well-liked DSG on TDI and 2.0T models.

An all-new interior is similar to what Volkswagen has done with the Golf and CC cabins. We're sure that cloth and leather will be available, as well as a host of interior upgrades like navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and so on.

Volkswagen hasn't released the official pricing as of this writing, but it is saying that the car will start around $16,000 when it arrives at North American dealerships this October. For now, hit the jump to read the full details in VW's press release and scroll through the gallery below to see the 2011 Jetta in high-resolution glory.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta offers Teutonic titillation for around $16k [w/video]

Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta offers Teutonic titillation for around $16k [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, CC R-Line and New Beetle Red Rock special editions hit dealers

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel

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

Volkswagen is rolling three new special edition vehicles into dealership showrooms as we speak, and at least two of them are worth a look. First, though, we have the New Beetle Red Rock Edition. A two-toned exterior comprised of Red Rock metallic paint and black roof, which is paired with an all-black interior. Other updates include 17-inch wheels and a full sport suspension. Only 750 will be available, all in the coupe bodystyle and priced at $20,390.

Now, on to something more interesting: The 2010 Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition. This car is patterned after the diesel racers that VW has been running its its TDI Cup for the past few seasons. Visual updates abound, starting with the same full body kit found on the TDI Cup racecars, which includes an aerodynamic front bumper, side skirts and rear valance. GLI-spec brakes with red-painted calipers and suspension settings should improve handling, as should the 18-inch Charleston wheels and stickier rubber. Inside there's not much to see, aside from the brushed aluminum door sills, and power is unchanged at 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque from the 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine.

Finally we have the new CC R-Line, which also benefits from a full body kit with side skirts and a new front bumper that includes an integrated chin spoiler. Eighteen-inch Mallory wheels, R-Line badges on the front fenders and smoked taillamps complete the exterior upgrades while the interior gets (surprise!) brushed aluminum door sills. Power is provided by VW's ubiquitous 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and six-speed DSG gearbox with paddle shifters. See the complete details in the press release after the break.

Gallery: Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading VW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, CC R-Line and New Beetle Red Rock special editions hit dealers

VW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, CC R-Line and New Beetle Red Rock special editions hit dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:26:00 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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LA 2008: VW Jetta TDI named Green Car of the Year

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Volkswagen

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Green Car of the Year

There are a few standouts in the emerging green sector of the U.S. auto market that are hitting the market in 2009. BMW's first clean diesel in the United States, the 335d, is one such vehicle that has torque-loving enthusiasts salivating, and General Motors' upcoming Saturn Vue is the first application of the 2-Mode hybrid system in a front-wheel drive vehicle. No green car discussion is complete without a mention of the smart fortwo, which sports the best mileage of any non-hybrid car available. Of course, the new Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid from Ford are shaping up to be real contenders in the green mid-size sedan sweepstakes and they may take a chunk out of Camry hybrid sales when it finally debuts. Still, there is one '09 car that seems to offer the best of all worlds, with a relatively low starting price, excellent fuel economy and refined driving dynamics: The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. For these reasons, the oil-burner from Germany has been selected by Green Car Journal as the 2009 Green Car of the Year. We're not arguing with the decision, but you are, of course, free to make your voice heard in the comments section.

Gallery: 2009 Green Car of the Year: VW Jetta TDI

Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Continue reading LA 2008: VW Jetta TDI named Green Car of the Year

LA 2008: VW Jetta TDI named Green Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:28:00 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 Drives

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 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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Jetta TDI buyers to get $1,300 back from the IRS

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Government/Legal, Green

Now that Toyota has sold so many Priuses that the popular hybrid no longer qhalifies for federal tax credits, and they are essentially sold out until the new generation cars show up next year, people might be wondering where to go for a high mileage vehicle. Volkswagen's new 50-state legal Jetta TDI is going on sale around about Labor day and our good friends at the IRS have decreed that people who purchase one will be able to get a check back from the feds for $1,300. The clean diesel Jetta qualifies under the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit. That would bring the price premium for the diesel to only $700 over a comparable Jetta with a gas engine. The EPA has rated the Jetta at 29/40mpg city highway with a 6-speed DSG gearbox. Real world numbers are likely to be closer to the low 40s for most drivers, but we'll be finding out for ourselves soon. At the first drive of Mercedes new BlueTec diesels last month, company officials expressed hope that those vehicles would also qualify for the credit. Thanks for the tip, Conner!

[Source: VWvortex]

Jetta TDI buyers to get $1,300 back from the IRS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official EPA numbers posted for the '09 Jetta TDI - 30/41mpg

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Green, Volkswagen

When we got our first chance to sample the new Volkswagen Jetta TDI last summer, VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby indicated that the new compact diesel would achieve mileage in the 40mpg range. More recently, VW has been indicating that the Jetta TDI is capable of up to 60mpg on the highway. The first of the new 50-state legal Jettas were recently spotted on their way to dealerships and now the EPA has published official mileage numbers. Unfortunately,wrong those numbers don't quite match up with what VW has been claiming.

According to the official listing at FuelEconomy.gov, the 6-speed manual 2009 VW Jetta TDI managed 30mpg on the city cycle and 41mpg on the highway cycle, making its combined number 34mpg. Now those numbers are certainly respectable and nothing to sneeze at, but they fall well short of VW's predictions. Nonetheless, the TDI rates 41.7-percent better than the 2.5L five cylinder and 36-percent better than the 2.0 TFSI four cylinder. The big question is what will a diesel Jetta do in the real world? According to VW spokesman Keith Price, Volkswagen's diesels typically do better in real world mileage than the EPA sticker values. VW, you know where to find our garage so we can judge for ourselves. Thanks for the tip, Conner and Jason!

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 VW Jetta Sportwagen

[Source: FuelEconomy.gov]

Official EPA numbers posted for the '09 Jetta TDI - 30/41mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 May 2008 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Volkswagen, First Drives

2009 VW Jetta Sportwagen - Click above for high-res gallery

While we were in Virginia attending the inaugural race of the Jetta TDI cup series, Volkswagen provided us hacks with a some new Jetta Sportwagens with which to make the 45 minute morning and evening commute between the Berry Hill Inn and the race track. Like the last generation Jetta Wagon, the new Sportwagen is branded as a Jetta in North America because Jetta is Volkswagen's top-selling model here. The rest of the world, however, knows this estate-bodied Volkswagen as the Golf Variant. No matter, because the Golf/Rabbit and Jetta share all their important hardware and are, for all intents and purposes, the same car.

In typical fashion, the new Sportwagen has grown since the previous model was retired and is now nearly as big as the last-gen Passat wagon. My first impression upon climbing into the Sportwagen was how it felt nearly as roomy as the 2000 Passat wagon that resides in half of my garage at home. VW provided an assortment of cars with both 5-speed three-pedal and 6-speed two-pedal transmission arrangements. Unfortunately, all were paired with the base 2.5L inline five-cylinder engine. Check out my impressions of the new Jetta Sportwagen after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 VW Jetta Sportwagen

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 May 2008 13:03:00 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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SEMA 2007: Jetta TDI Cup Racer plays capture the (chequered) flag

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Sedan, Volkswagen

click above image for more high-res pics of the Jetta TDI Cup Racer

Racing diesels are the thing to have nowadays, and VW will get into the game next year with its Jetta TDI clean diesel cup racer. The Jetta TDI will form the basis of a 1-make series in the U.S. run at up to 8 venues and sanctioned by the SCCA. The Jettas will all be owned, prepared by, and maintained by Volkswagen. Each will have the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 170 HP and close to 300 lb-ft when kitted for racing. Shifting will also be handled by a 6-speed auto with DSG. And not only will the race series be diesel clean, it will also be carbon free. Follow the jump to read the press release and be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res pics below.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Gallery: Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Racer

Continue reading SEMA 2007: Jetta TDI Cup Racer plays capture the (chequered) flag

SEMA 2007: Jetta TDI Cup Racer plays capture the (chequered) flag originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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