Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

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

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.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/17/2...of-turbo-four/

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

About time. I always thought the 5 was coarse and unrefined

bagwell

big +1

but IMO they should concentrate on at least the 2.0T...preferably the 211hp 258tq version not the 200hp version...I could easily get 35mpg with my wife's 08 TT 2.0T DSG.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

That that one has always seemed strange to me. I understand the different power rating to help differentiate Audi and VW, but both are underrated engines I'm almost certain

mmarshall

That's simple science.....and physics. It's not difficult to figure out. Fill an engine-block with an odd number of cylinders when you have a conventional four-cycle firing-system of intake/compression/power/exhaust, and something, somewhere, is going to be slightly out of sync......no matter how heavy/damping your flywheel or sophisticated your balance-shaft is. You are going to get at least some kind of vibration, somewhere, in some RPM-ranges. There's just no getting around it.

LexFather

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I fell asleep looking at the pic

Fizzboy7

No brainer decision. One of the weakest points of the current Jetta (and Passat). Trying to be cheap, creative, or quirky (not sure which, maybe all), VW just wasted the opportunity to sell more Jettas the last three years.

bagwell

better?

this is the way the Jetta should come....projector HID...18s.....etc

spwolf

1.8T is a nice engine... my buddy has it in CC and it works well, fast and frugal... Jetta is so crappy for the price, they really need to bump up the interior... then again, I guess you guys are used to it.