VW New Compact Coupe: Poor Man's Audi A5 Coupe Hints at Production Model Based on New Jetta

What you're looking at here is the Volkswagen New Compac Coupe (NCC) concept that we first told you about this past weekend. Based on the next generation Jetta sedan (forget about the Polo nonsense that has been making the rounds on the internet...), the NCC made its world premiere today at the Detroit motor show and it previews a production version that will expand VW's portfolio in North America and other parts of the world.

The German firm positions the NCC concept, which comes with a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, between the not-for-North America Scirocco Coupe and the CC hardtop convertible.

Although it features the same length ( 4.54 meters or 178.5 inches) and width (1.78 meters or 70.1 inches) as the current Jetta, the NCC is two inches lower at 1.41 meters or 55.6 inches and has a three-inch longer wheelbase at 2.65 meters or 104.4 inches.

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VW Jetta Coupe Concept to Debut at Detroit Auto Show, Previews Sedan and Coupe Production Models

Those of you that are disgruntled with VW's decision to not bring the sexy Scirocco Coupe over to the States might find some comfort in the German firm's plans to stage the world debut of an all-new sporty coupe at next week's 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Called New Compact Coupe or NCC for short, the show car will give American consumers their first taste of an upcoming two-door coupe model that's based on the next generation Jetta four-door sedan and is destined primarily for the U.S. market.

Our sources tell us that the NCC concept is in fact an almost production-ready version of the Jetta Coupe though we're not sure if the German firm will actually use this name when the car is launched onto the market within the next year or so.

Similar in size with the current Jetta sedan, the two-door concept model will also showcase a new hybrid powertrain comprising of a small displacement four-cylinder TSI petrol unit and an electric motor that may find its way into the Jetta and the Golf in the very near future.

PS: Even though many car websites and blogs are claiming / assuming that the above drawing is / may be official, fact is, it's a julino billym sketch...

VIDEO: 2011 VW Jetta Sedan Spied in the U.S.A

Volkswagen is continuing the development of the next generation of its bread-and-butter model in North America, the 2011 Jetta that was captured here undergoing testing in Death Valley California. The camouflaged prototype model seen in the spy video suggests that the new Jetta will boast all-new sheetmetal with a pinch of Audi A4 styling cues in the profile and rear-end.

Underneath the skin, the German firm's new compact-size sedan will most likely use bits and pieces from the Golf VI which in turn is largely based on the fifth-generation Golf.

In the States, we'll definitely see the 2011 Jetta being offered with VW's latest 2.0 TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines. Even though there have been rumors circulating about VW's lively yet fuel efficient 1.4-liter TSI four-cylinder petrol with outputs ranging from 122HP to 170HP, chances are the Germans will continue to equip the base model with the outdated, but cheap to produce, 2.5-liter five-cylinder petrol.

Edmunds reported that the VW's Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla challenger could make its auto show debut as early as this month's gathering in Detroit, but this has yet to be confirmed by Volkswagen.

Via: Edmunds

VW Announces Race-Inspired Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

A special edition Jetta inspired by the TDI Cup race cars will be arriving at Volkswagen's showrooms across the U.S. in the beginning of 2010, the German automaker announced. The Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition gets the front bumper, side skirts and rear valance that are found on the TDI Cup race cars along with larger brakes with red calipers, 18 inch alloy wheels with performance all-season tires, sway bars and a sportier tuned suspension.

However, what the replica doesn't get is the TDI Cup race car's more powerful 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine which is rated at 170 horsepower and nearly 300 ft-lbs of torque as it keeps the 2.0L turbo diesel of the standard car that delivers 140HP and 236 ft-lbs of torque.

The engine be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or VW's DSG dual clutch semi-automatic transmission.

Other upgrades over the standard Jetta include sports seats wrapped in Interlagos cloth and a multi-function leather steering wheel that's fitted with paddle shifters when combined with the DSG transmission.

Volkswagen said that the Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition will start at around $25,000.

Volkswagen's 2011 U.S.-Made Passat Replacement More Realistically Rendered

Just last week, Volkswagen released a second teaser sketch of its new mid-size sedan that will go on sale in the fall of 2011 replacing the Passat in its North American lineup. However, if history has taught us anything, chances are that the actual production model will be even less exciting than the initial sketches suggest. With this in mind, Eduardo Oliveira from Brazil's 'Irmaododecio' used both drawings from VW to come up with a more realistic take on the new model.

Needless to say, it's anyone's guess if Oliveira's rendering comes close or not to Volkswagen's forthcoming proposal in the mid-size sedan segment.

The yet to be named sedan will be built at Volkswagen Group of America's new Chattanooga, Tennessee production facility.

Via: Imaododecio (Thanks to Eduardo for the tip)

Volkswagen Releases New Teaser of U.S.-Made Passat Replacement

A few months after publishing the first sketch of its forthcoming mid-size sedan that will be produced at a new factory currently being built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Volkswagen's American division came out today with yet another sketch of its Honda Accord rival that's destined to go on sale in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2011. The picture of the still-to-be-named sedan suggests that the car's looks will more or less fall in line with the current Passat and Jetta.

The German automaker hasn't released many details on the sedan other than it will be similar in size to the Passat offering "spacious legroom", "a large trunk" and "numerous cupholders" (...) with power being provided by the firm's latest Fuel-Stratified Injection (FSI) gasoline and TDI diesel engine units, coupled to a dual-clutch transmission.

The new mid size sedan will essentially replace the Passat in North America (but not Europe) slotting between the smaller Jetta and the sportier looking and more premium, Passat CC "four-door coupe".

Volkswagen's New Exclusive Label Applied on Special Edition Golf Estate

At the 2009 IAA Show in Frankfurt, VW announced the repositioning of the firm's Individual brand that will be marketed from now on under the "Volkswagen Exclusive" label and will adorn the range-topping versions of the company's models. The first product to be offered with the "Exclusive" badge is the new Golf Estate that is also known as the Variant in some markets while in the U.S., the previous generation model is sold as the Jetta SportWagen.

On the outside the Golf Estate Exclusive is characterized by features such as the sport chassis that lowers the ride height by 15mm, unique 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in chunkier 225/45 R17 tires and the "Exclusive" badges.

Moving on the interior, along with Highline grade's features like the automatic climate control (Climatronic), a panorama sunroof and the "RCD 210" radio-CD system, the Exclusive model adds special door tread plates, electric lumbar support, storage drawers under the front seats, leather steering wheel, leather gearshift knob and handbrake lever, carpet floor mats in front and rear with colored piping and door trim in leather look.

Furthermore, the Exclusive model comes equipped with sport seats (heated up front) in Nappa / Vienna leather offered in two different color combinations (Sioux / Titan Black or Cinnamon / Titan Black) with contrasting color seams.

While Volkswagen did not say with which engines the Golf Estate Exclusive is offered, the firm did announce that prices in Germany start from €27,145 ($39,800 at today's exchange rates).

VW and Audi Models Recalled Over Two Separate DSG Problems

Volkswagen Group of America has issued two separate recall for numerous Audi and VW models equipped with its DSG dual-clutch transmission. The first recall involves 16,000 2009-2010MY cars manufactured between September 2008 and August 2009. The models affected are Audi's A3, TT Coupe and Roadster, plus VW's Eos and Jetta Sedan and SportWagen. In this case, a faulty temperature sensor could cause the DSG transmission to shift into neutral while the vehicle is being driven.

The company said that it will contact owners of the affected models so they can take the cars to local dealers for any necessary repairs free of charge.

The second recall affects approximately 43,000 Volkswagens and 10,300 Audis of the 2007-2009 model years including the VW R32, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, GTI, Eos, as well as the Audi A3 and TT.

According to the German automaker, some customers reported transmission performance issues under certain driving conditions. Volkswagen claims that the problem was caused by a faulty component inside the Mechatronic unit. The company will repair or replace the components in the transmissions of the affected models free of charge.

Furthermore, VW said that it will extend its New Vehicle Limited Warranty to cover the DSG transmissions affected by the customer service program and the voluntary safety recall. According to the company, the extended warranty is for 10-years/100,000-miles and can be transferred to subsequent owners of the cars.

"Safety, customer satisfaction, quality and long-term reliability are top priorities at Volkswagen and Audi. We have been studying the symptoms customers have reported, and are working closely with the NHTSA," said Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO, VWGoA. "We listened to our customers' concerns, and are taking action to address them. We are focused on taking all the appropriate actions to ensure the complete satisfaction of our existing customers."

VW Jetta 2.0 TFSI MY2006-2009 Recall Alert: Driveshaft Could Detach from Gearbox...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -NHSTA for short- has issued a recall of more than 25,500 fifth-generation Volkswagen Jetta cars from the 2006-2009 model year, equipped with a 2.0-liter TFSI engine. According to the NHTSA, VW is concerned about the quality of the fastening screws on the driveshaft cover plate as they may not have been torqued properly during assembly and could loosen over time.

In fact, VW says that the screws could loosen to the point where the driveshaft detaches from the gearbox. The German firm's U.S. dealers will replace the screws on the affected models free of charge. The recall is expected to begin around mid-June.

VW to Showcase Jetta, Passat CC and Tiguan SUV Concepts at SEMA

For the 2008 SEMA show Volkswagen will bring to Las Vegas a triplet of concept cars based on the Jetta TDI, Passat CC and the new Tiguan SUV respectively as well as an example of its 2009 Jetta TDI Cup race car (pictured above). The most interesting proposal appears to be the Tiguan Performance Concept. According to VW, the Tiguan study's appearance is upgraded with an exterior body kit while power comes from a 4-cylinder engine equipped with a three-stage turbo kit that helps it deliver an output of 312HP. The German automaker has yet to release any other details or pictures, but stay tuned on julino billym as we'll update this story as soon as we have more information.

Video: VW Reveals More Details on its U.S. Market Sedan

In spite of the industrywide crisis VW is pulling ahead with its plans to build its first U.S. production facility in more than 20 years in Chattanooga, Tennessee where it will produce a mid-size sedan designed specifically for North American consumers. Following the initial announcement in July, VW invited to Germany the Governor of the State of Tennessee, Phil Bredesen accompanied by a 50-strong delegation that included Chattanooga's Mayor, Ron Littlefield, and media representatives from the region. -Continued

During last week's presentation in Berlin, VW officials revealed the core values (see video below) of their forthcoming sedan codenamed NMS which stands for "New Midsize Sedan". The vehicle, that could possibly serve as a replacement for either the Passat or the Jetta in VW's North American range, will be offered with both FSI gasoline and TDI diesel engines. According to VW officials, among the requirements that must be met in order to satisfy U.S. consumers is the size and number of cupholders in the interior...

Work at the 2,000-employee, $1 billion manufacturing plant at Enterprise South industrial park in Chattanooga is scheduled to begin in November with the first vehicles expected to roll off the production lines in early 2011. Overall, VW plans to build around 150,000 vehicles a year at its new facility in Tennessee. As for when we'll get our first glimpse of the NMS, julino billym's sources report that VW most likely show off the car at the Detroit Auto Show in 2010.

(Video via: WRBCTV)

PRODUCT CONCEPT NMS

Market Requirements to Be Met:

• Spacious legroom
• Large trunk volume
• Number and size of cupholders
• ABS with front and rear disc brakes
• Airbags front/rear
• Child seat anchors
• High performance radio
• Interface for mobile devices

Volkswagen NMS Attributes:

• Superior driving dynamics
  
• Dynamic powetrain / acceleration
  
• Double clutch transmission (DSG)
  
• FSI engines
  
• TDI Engines
  
• Superior design transporting sustainable values
  

VW’s Jetta Diesel Models Eligible for $1,300 Tax Credit

The Internal Revenue Service – IRS for short, has issued a certification letter affirming that Volkswagen’s new Jetta TDI diesel-powered Sedan and Sportwagen models qualify for the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit. Money-wise, that means that buyers of the specific vehicles are eligible for a $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit. -Continued

“The $1,300 tax credit provides an even greater value to the upcoming Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen,” said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America. “Our clean diesel vehicles offer consumers the fuel efficiency that they’re looking for while providing power, utility, performance, safety and excellent value.” Now, if VW could only find a way to drop diesel prices in the U.S. to the same level as gasoline...

2009 VW Jetta SportWagen Available from $18,999

The new station wagon variant of the Jetta, or as Volkswagen calls it in the U.S., the SportWagen, is now available in dealer showrooms with prices starting at $18,999 for the base version fitted with a 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 177 lbs.-ft of torque.

For those wanting more power, the 200Hp 2.0-liter TFSi engine (same as the GTI) will be available later this year while those in search of a more frugal alternative, VW will offer the 40 MPG Jetta SportWagen TDI equipped with a 140Hp 2.0-liter turbo diesel unit. The latter will be available this fall at a starting price of $23,590.

40MPG VW Jetta TDI Priced from $21,990

Volkswagen has announced that pricing for its 2009 diesel powered Jetta TDI Sedan and SportWagen models will start from $21,990 and $23,590, respectively. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates, the Jetta TDI is rated 29 mpg in the City and 40 mpg on the Highway. However, VW said that they hired a third-party certifier, AMCI, who found that the Jetta TDI performed 24% in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway. Well, unless we test it, we’ll hold onto the EPA estimates. -Continued

Both Jetta TDIs come standard with six airbags (with optional rear side airbags) and Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP). Also standard for 2009 is VW’s carefree maintenance program. With this program VW promises that there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance as described in the vehicle’s maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty - three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.