Volkswagen Jetta News

The first R-Line upgrade on a Golf and price cuts on the Jetta are Volkswagen’s model-year 2014 range revision highlights. Showroom-wide changes include a welcome upgrade to the Beetle but price increases of up to $2000 on some models.The R-Line Package - $2200 on the popular Golf Highline and $2000 on the niche Beetle - adds a raft of racy badges, trim, go-fast kit plus sports suspension, 18-inch alloys, faster steering and paddle-shifters.Such items should bring the Golf even closer dynamically to the GTI but the latter is now $500 more. Most Golfs cop a price rise - $250 on the Car of the Year Comfortline and $300 on the Highline. An extra $400 is now asked for the Cabriolet and $300 for the Beetle. Steeper stickers adorn the Polo - $250 on the Comfortline, $350 on the GTI. The three-door version of the hot hatch has been dropped.Tiguan buyers are looking at $400 extra on the Pacific or $500 for the top-line 155 TSI. A Passat adds $500 for the 130 TDI and Alltrack and $750 for the V6. Touareg buyers have to find $800 extra for the V6 diesel and $2000 for the V8.Only the slow-selling Jetta gets price relief - $1500 off the 118TSI and $3250 from the Comfortline. It also loses the 103 TDI Comfortline and quick 147TSI Highline. Elsewhere the Beetle, to date one of the few locally sold VWs with basic rear suspension, now features the multi-link independent setup of the superseded Mark VI Golf. There’s new paint too - “candy white”, if you like.Next month the new Golf R and GTI Performance version arrive. 

Volkswagen has issued a worldwide recall of 2.6 million vehicles --including more than 44,000 cars in Australia -- for possible fuel leaks, electrical faults and gearbox problems.It is the second significant recall in Australia in five months for the German car maker, which is suspected by industry observers of taking shortcuts in its bid to overtake Toyota to become the world’s biggest car maker by 2018.The recall comes as the Victorian Coroner today announced there was no evidence of a mechanical fault with a Volkswagen Golf involved in a fatal crash in Melbourne in 2011.The car was struck from behind by a truck. The coroner investigated the incident after it was alleged the car lost power suddenly, following similar complaints from other Volkswagen owners.The vehicles in the latest recall include more than 17,000 Tiguan SUVs because "a fuse may blow … thus resulting in failure of one of the two vehicle light circuits".Approximately 16,000 Volkswagen Amarok pick-ups are being recalled because "some Amarok utes with a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine may be affected by leaks to the fuel pipe within the engine compartment".Furthermore, about 11,000 Volkswagens across various models equipped with the company’s controversial twin-clutch automatic "DSG" gearbox will be recalled because "electric malfunctions could occur in rare cases in the gearbox power supply if synthetic gearbox oil is used".In June 2013 Volkswagen recalled more than 25,000 cars in Australia for gearbox problems after a fortnight of unprecedented pressure from disgruntled customers, following the announcement of the Victorian Corner's investigation.The vehicles affected in the June 2013 recall were built between June 2008 and September 2011 and included the Golf hatchback, the Jetta sedan, the Polo hatchback, the Passat sedan and wagon and the Caddy van.Complaints highlighted in the lead-up to that campaign included cars that conked out or lost power suddenly, high oil use, and gearbox reliability issues.Several customers reported having their engines and/or gearboxes replaced while others complained about the  $5000 to $10,000 expense of fixing these parts once the warranty had expired.In addition to the previous recall announced in June, Volkswagen Australia also called about 2800 diesel cars back to dealerships for inspection.The company says anyone experiencing faults with their Volkswagen to contact their local Volkswagen dealer.Volkswagen Australia has set up a dedicated customer service line to answer customer queries -- 1800 504 076. 

Volkswagen is issuing recalls and advisories for about 2.6 million vehicles world-wide, including about 43,700 in Australia, for a range of three defects. The Australian vehicles include more than 16,700 Tiguan SUVs recalled for a fault that means a fuse can blow, causing one of the two vehicle light circuits to fail. About 16,000 Volkswagen Amarok utes are being recalled because of fuel pipe leaks affecting the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine.The remaining 11,000 cars range across various models that have VW's twin-clutch automatic DSG gearbox, in which an electrical defect could occur if synthetic gearbox oil is used," Volkswagen says..A large proportion of the 2.6 million global recall is in China -- VW's largest market -- after a problem was found there in the same gearbox that triggered a recall earlier this year. The Chinese recall affects 750,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles that use the Chinesee-built DSG gearbox there.  Vehicles on the China recall list include the Volkswagen Golf, Beetle and Passat and several Audi models.It's the second recall this year on the DSG. In June more than 25,000 Australian cars were recalled for gearbox problems after pressure from disgruntled customers. Those vehicles included the Golf hatchback, Jetta sedan, Polo hatchback, Passat sedan and wagon and the Caddy van.Volkswagen said it is recalling 800,000 (2008-11) Tiguan SUVs and 239,000 Amaroks around the world, bringing the total number of cars affected in the three safety actions to 2.6 million.While the number of vehicles is large, analysts estimated the cost of the repairs could be relatively small. Still, the fresh problems that have surfaced with the gearbox might further dent Volkswagen's reputation in China and strain its relations with its local venture partner, SAIC.The gearbox only has problems in hot and humid climates, said Volkswagen spokesman Peter Heinz Thul. In warm climates, additives in the synthetic oil can damage the electronics. VW is proposing to replace the oil with a mineral oil that has been used previously without problems, Mr. Thul said.Volkswagen issued a recall in March in China for nearly 400,000 vehicles to fix an electronic malfunction on the same DQ200 gearbox. It said the problem was resolved with a software fix.VW officials told Chinese regulatory officials about the most recent problem earlier this week, Mr. Thul said. The automaker then agreed that a recall should be issued.Volkswagen Australia is yet to determine the impact on local models for this latest recall, but will "ensure these recalls are conducted promptly and efficiently", according to Managing Director John White, and relevant owners will be notified by mail.This latest recall follows the 25,928 Volkswagen vehicles recalled in June over similar issues with DSG transmissions manufacured between 2008-11, of which 40 per cent have been rectified to date and is expected to be completed next year.Volkswagen Australia says that this progress is in line with the timeframe anticipated, and that vehicles already attended to will not be affected by this new recall as their transmission fluid will have already been replaced.The company says concerned owners should contact their local Volkswagen dealer or can call a dedicated customer service number: 1800 504 076.

Volkswagen's Jetta GLI races on a closed course as a driver competes against one of the world's top speed guitarists, John Taylor. The VW driver of the Jetta GLI sedan has to complete one lap around track before John Taylor plays Flight of the Bumblebee. 

The newly-crowned Carsguide COTY, the Kia Rio, leads the latest group of five-star safety cars in Australia.A dozen safety standouts have joined the fives, from the Audi A1 to the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet, but the rules will change radically in 2012 as ANCAP demands more protection for new-car buyers."The hurdle to get into the five-star game will be higher, although the crash tests will probably be the same," says Lauchlan McIntosh, ANCAP chair. "Next year, when we start adding whiplash and some of the other 'roadmap' features, it won't be as easy to get a five-star. I think we'll see some new cars not getting five stars."In the end, the car companies will have to lift their game. We're ramping up the safety-assist technologies to get five stars. In 2008 we said you have to have ESC to get in the game. Now they'll need to have some of safety assist technologies. The manufacturers have moved. They have spent hundreds of millions."Those technologies include everything from Mercedes-Benz's Pre-Safe system which pre-primes airbags and moves seats to City Safety at Volvo and the Subaru EyeSight system that includes lane-departure warnings and active cruise control. Some brands will have individual items and others will package a suite of safety stuff."We're going to say you need a certain number," says McIntosh. He predicts a rapid uptake of new technology as well as improving results from brands which are currently failing to make the five-star grade."At the bottom end of the game there are still a few struggling. But I think the Chinese will lift their game pretty quickly, and Mahindra too. Now governments and fleets are only buying five-star cars the game is over. The ADRs are almost irrelevant. It's that purchasing that makes a difference."McIntosh says there should be another final burst of ANCAP results before the end of 2011and, without revealing any detail, predicts a couple of surprises."There will be some new results that will come out with four stars, which is a bit different to Euro NCAP. We're a bit tougher in the aggregation of the numbers. But four stars is still a good result.""We're being a bit overwhelmed by the number of five-star cars and the interest from buyers. And that's a good thing. The latest five-star winners combine the results from European NCAP testing and local results in Australia.“With the holiday period looming your choice of new car may well be a life-saver," says McIntosh.ANCAP FIVE-STAR RATINGSBMW 1 SeriesCitroen C4Citroen DS3Ford Falcon FG MkII sedan and uteHolden Captiva Series IIKia OptimaKia RioMazda BT-50Mercedes-Benz BT-50Mercedes-Benz M-ClassVW JettaVW Golf Cabriolet

A new entry-level price of $26,490 will put the Volkswagen Jetta on the radar of potential Holden Cruze and Mazda2 buyers. And it’s no longer a “Golf with a boot”. The new car runs on its own chassis and shares no panels with its small car stablemate. The range has also been rationalised, with the entry level 77kW diesel dropped for a 118kW “twincharge” 1.4-litre petrol unit. The base 118 comes with a six-speed manual; the DSG twin-clutch automated manual transmission is a $2500 option. Step up to the Comfortline models and the same engine sells for $32,490 with the 103kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel another $2000. All Comfortlines pick up 16-inch alloys, rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and automatic headlights and wipers. The range tops out at $37,990 for the 147kW Highline 2.0-litre petrol model boasting 17-inch alloys, a 6.5-inch touch screen, leather upholster and heated front seats. Bluetooth and iPod/USB connectivity is standard across the range and the Jetta comes with a full-size spare. VW Australia managing director Anke Koeckler admitted the base manual vehicle will do limited numbers — “maybe five per cent” and expects the Comfortline range to account for most sales. She won’t predict numbers but said VW plans for the Jetta to sit alongside the Golf, Tiguan and Polo as one of its four volume pillars. That would mean sales will have to match its record of around 4000 in 2007. Sales have been declining since but Koeckler believes this is the time — and the car — to reverse that trend. “This market has always liked small cars with a boot and the Jetta will definitely appeal to young families or those coming down out of a large car,” she said.

The German vehicle manufacturer will bring a petrol-electric version of the medium sedan to the market in 2012, using the 1.2-litre twin-charger direct-injection petrol engine, according to product communications manager Christian Buhlmann. "In the US hybrids play a big part, and as of 2012 we will also have a hybrid here in the US,” he says.  “At Detroit we showed the Jetta Coupe concept… that's still under evaluation to see if there's a market for a third version. We have shown the 1.2TSI twin-charged engine in combination with an electric engine and a seven-speed DSG." "By doing this we can fulfil our goals here for a growth strategy, North America is the only market where we don't have double-digit market share and we are going to change that.  "We are market leader in China and Europe, South America - it is our goal to become the number one in the world market by 2018, which would mean for the US 800,000 Volkswagens per year, we had 213,000 here last year so we have a long way to go, the Jetta is going to help us." "We are currently evaluating which markets it might be most interesting for," he says.  The German marque believes the hybrid is a volume proposition only in the US market –where the Jetta represents almost half its passenger car sales. Volkswagen has lofty volume targets, with aims to more than triple its current North American volumes to around 800,000.  With a new billion-dollar factory in North America (Chattanooga, Tennessee), as well as its existing plant in Puebla, Mexico that currently builds Jetta, the VW product plan also includes a mid-sized model above the new Jetta (to be unveiled at Detroit next year), again only for North America and not a re-badged Passat, says Buhlmann. The Jetta will also be built in China but Buhlmann says it will only be for domestic Chinese sale, not for export to other markets, which will continue to receive its Jetta vehicles from Mexico.  The efficient direct-injection petrol and turbodiesel engines are vital to the brand's expansion, with the uptake of turbodiesel passenger vehicles exceeding the supply. Volkswagen says a quarter of the Jetta, Jetta Sport, Touareg and Golf orders are for the new cleaner and quieter diesel powerplants, which has warranted the company's plans to build engines in North America. Australia remains a petrol and diesel market for Volkswagen, says spokesman Karl Gehling.  "At this stage we have no plans to introduce any hybrids in Australia, we're sticking with the diesels because they've been very successful in Australia," he says. VW Australia's diesel sales overall are around 50 per cent - although the Touareg SUV sells more than 90 per cent diesel - but the company's top-selling Golf has had a shift back in favour of petrol. "Diesel take-up is about 50 per cent overall, with Touareg it is 95 per cent, but we've noticed with Golf, which is our biggest selling and the new TSI there's been a shift back towards petrol because of the significantly improved fuel consumption of the TSI," he says "It's more about what genuine hybrid sales are, outside of the fleet market, it probably doesn't make sense to add the additional variant at the moment, but that may change - it all depends on fuel prices and a whole range of other factors. Gehling is also reluctant to nominate a sales increase expectation with the new Jetta.  "We would look to see an increase in sales, but we don't comment on sales figures." "The new model will reflect the current range, there will be a similar number of petrol or diesel, there are no plans for a GTI or an R variant, it's not that style of car in most markets, we have the 147kW car, the US gets a sporty-styled variant, but we think we have our market covered with our current range," he says. The company's also coy on the future of Scirocco in Australia for similar reasons - there's a desire to get the vehicle to local show rooms but with a sales clash with the Golf GTI among the concerns its future remains uncertain.

The new Jetta is bigger than the current car and the styling has matured in an effort to further differentiate it from the Golf hatch.  Volkswagen Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling, says the new sedan will join the local lineup early next year.Visually, the car draws inspiration from the New Compact Coupe concept car, which made its debut at January's Detroit Motor Show.  However, when production starts there will be some subtle styling differences between the North American car and the Australian version."It's a global car but there are some minor differences between markets," Gehling says.  Gehling says prices and specifications are yet to be determined for local cars but engines and specifications are expected to closely mirror the Golf.Prices should be close to the $30,990 starter for the current 1.4-litre 118 TSI.  It was styled under the leadership of Volkswagen head of design, Klaus Bischoff.  "It's a complete new design language for us," he says. "It's roomier than before."At 4644mm long, the sedan is 90mm longer than the current car making it 13mm longer than the just-launched Golf wagon.  The wheelbase has also grown 70mm to 2648mm. This adds 67mm greater legroom for rear seat passengers.Inside, the Jetta gets an new dashboard with aluminium highlights and leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel.  Luggage space is 510 litres and standard safety features including six airbags, anti-skid brakes and electronic stability control.In North America the car will get a range of petrol engines ranging in size from a 1.2-litre turbo up to a 2.0-litre turbo as well as BlueMotion technology with stop/start and battery regeneration.  In some markets the car will be available with a 78kW 1.6-litre TDI and a 103kW 2.0-litre TDI engine.The original Jetta was launched in Germany in 1979. More than 9.6 million have been sold globally and it is the best-selling Volkswagen in the United States.  Like the current car, Australian Jettas will be sourced out of Mexico.

It's not just any Volkswagen, either, but the all-new Jetta sedan.  It is headed to showrooms in the USA, following a preview through a coupe-style concept car at the Detroit Motor Show in January, before the end of this year. The Australian sales plan is not set yet, but the new Jetta is likely to come in 2011 as Volkswagen also grows its range with the Polo GTi and Amarok pickup.  The Carparazzi pictures of the new Jetta show it without the heavy camouflage used for desert testing, although there are is still a car bra on the nose, bonnet bits and a cover over the tail. The new Jetta is officially known as NCS - for New Compact Sedan - and its shape is much more rounded than previous models. It is expected to be both longer and wider than the outgoing model, yet still based on the hatchback Golf. Carparazzi says the Jetta name will still be used and production will continue at Volkswagen's factory in Puebla, Mexico.  The car's prime target is the USA, where Volkswagen aims to sell 160,000 a year against rivals including the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Engine and transmissions choices are expected to mirror the Golf, although there is speculation about an all-wheel drive model.  Carparazzi says Jetta production will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, pointing to Australian sales sometime in the first half of 2011.

The German brand is taking aim straight at the world's best selling compact with a new Jetta sedan which should join the lineup in Australia in 2011. The upcoming Jetta is based on the latest-model Volkswagen Golf, the sixth-generation hatchback, with the promise of slightly more length and width than the car that has been in Australian showrooms since early in 2006.Jetta VI is already being set for sales of more than 160,000 cars a year in the USA, with production set for Volkswagen's factory at Puebla in Mexico. The new Jetta is caught by the Carparazzi scoop photographers during hot-weather testing in America and is clearly a development of the new Golf. There is some of the usual camouflage but nothing to distract from the basic design.Carparazzi sources say Jetta VI is not expected to go into production for the USA until the final quarter of next year, when it will be sold as a 2011 model. But there is no news yet on the latest plan for Europe, where Volkswagen has been working through the various Golf models — including the GTi that hits Australia later this year — and the baby Polo.Volkswagen Group Australia will not discuss any Jetta plans, although they will be significantly different to the USA as the car sold here is built in South Africa.