Chicago 2011: Volkswagen GLI Is The Jetta We've Been Waiting For
Amid all the disappointment surrounding the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, and the step back it has taken in quality and driving dynamics, Volkswagen wants to show enthusiasts that it hasn’t forgotten them, and is augmenting both the GTI hatchback and the rest of the Jetta lineup with the GLI, a 4-door Jetta that retains features like a punchy turbocharged engine and an independent rear suspension.
The GLI gets its first showing at the Chicago Auto Show‘s media day, but we’ve got some advance information on the car, mere hours before things kick off. The familiar 2.0T 4-cylinder engine makes an appearance, alongside a 6-speed manual and 6-speed dual clutch gearbox, along with the typical aesthetic accouterments that adorn both three-letter sport compacts. The biggest change is the independent rear suspension, which takes the place of the cheaper (and many say inferior) torsion-beam design that’s used in the standard car. A soft-touch plastic dashboard (as opposed to the hard plastic in the standard car), 18″ wheels, sport seats and tinted tail lights are said to be available, for a price of around $24,000. Stay tuned for live shots as the show officially gets underway tomorrow.
[Photo Credit: Fifteen52]
More by Derek Kreindler
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