2014 VW Jetta to drop five-cylinder in favor of turbo four

[SoCalEuro]

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Technology, Volkswagen, Rumormill



Rainer Michel, Vice President of Product Marketing & Strategy at Volkswagen of America, stopped by the AOL offices today for a chat about what VW has on tap for the 2013 model year. While much of what he had to say was either minor reshuffling of features or stuff we already knew - like the 45-mpg, hybrid version of the Jetta launching late this year - there were a few interesting tidbits.

First was the addition of a launch control feature to the 2013 Jetta GLI. Standard on GLI models with the DSG transmission, it allows for "a perfect launch with controlled wheelspin," according to VW's press release. While we're all about wheelspin, controlled or otherwise, Michel's real news wasn't about the 2013 Jetta, but the promise of an overhaul to the 2014 Jetta powertrain, steering and suspension.

VW will be dropping the 2.5-liter five-cylinder in favor of a 1.8-liter turbocharged, direct injected four, as was rumored. This is the same 1.8 TSI engine with 158 horsepower and 185 pound feet of torque found in the European Passat and CC. For those who are wondering whether it has any relationship to the 1.8T engine found in the VW GTI a few years back, the answer is a definitive "no." The new Jetta base engine will be built at VW's Mexican engine facility in Silao, with the switch to the turbo four made as much for the expected improvement in fuel economy as it was for production efficiency, as the naturally aspirated five-cylinder is not long for this world.

While VW didn't say how much of an improvement in fuel economy it expects from the 2014 Jetta, the new engine will offer potential efficiencies on a number of fronts. Not only is the engine lighter, according to Michel, but it will also herald the adoption of electric power steering. Perhaps more exciting for enthusiasts is that Michel promised that the move to EPAS and changes in the suspension tuning necessitated by the overhaul will allow VW to tune the base car to be a bit sportier than the current model.

Scroll down to read VW's full press release on the 2013 model year changes.Continue reading 2014 VW Jetta to drop five-cylinder in favor of turbo four

2014 VW Jetta to drop five-cylinder in favor of turbo four originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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