Intro
Volkswagen, the undisputed king of diesel engines in North America took a strange turn last February at the Canadian International Auto show in Toronto, Ont. Indeed, all of us who thought the Touareg Hybrid was just for show were stunned to see the metaphorical cover come off the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, a car VW hopes will steal some of the eco-friendly thunder away from Honda and Toyota.
Design
We are big fans of the subtle, yet clean and sporty design of the current generation Jetta,launched in 2010. The 2013 Jetta Hybrid will keep the same overall look, but switches the standard rims for Hybrid-specific wheels, and ads Hybrid badges on the front and rear.
Inside, we expect the same old spaceship-type cluster and large 3D display in the center console of energy flowing through the car, from the battery to the wheels, which is basic hybrid fare nowadays but still a pleasure to show off to friends and family.
Volkswagen has also slightly altered the front fascia in order to reduce the drag co-efficient, which should further help improve fuel efficiency.
Technology
The main powertrain is a 1.4 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine making 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque available from 1400 rpm to 3500 rpm. As with most turbocharged engine, premium fuel is a must. Volkswagen combines this modern engine with a 20 kW electric motor powered by a 1.1 kWh, 220 volts lithium-ion battery, bringing the total available horsepower up to 170.
The Jetta Hybrid’s power will be relayed to the front-wheels by a 7 speed DSG dual-clutch transmission that should provide efficient and hyperquick gear shifts.
Performance
There are two distinct features that make us think this hybrid will be unlike any other: the turbocharged engine, and the 7 seven speed dual-clutch transmission. Turbos by definition produce gobs of power from at low rpms, and we look forward to seeing how this impacts the performance of the Jetta Hybrid, especially when accelerating from a stand-still or passing.
As for the DSG, we first had the opportunity to try it out in the Audi A3 3.2 AWD years back (it wasn’t 7 speeds back then) for another publication, and have loved it ever since. We also are thrilled that VW didn’t go the way of the CVT, which is certainly well suited to hybrid technology, but also can take away some of the driving fun in certain instances.
Conclusion
The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid will arrive in showrooms in January 2013 with a base price of 27875$, and buyers should expect the usual Trendline, Comfortline and Highline variants.
Volkswagen has always made cars for drivers, and we do not expect the 2013 Jetta Hybrid to be any different. We are also happy to see one of the premier automotive manufacturers adding to its hybrid line-up with a vehicle that has major market appeal and potential.
We look forward to bringing you a full review very soon!
