Last week at the Chicago Auto Show, Volkswagen North America presented a new hotted up version of their region-specific Jetta sedan called the GLI. While the suffix may not be evocative in the way that ‘GTI’ has come to mean, this essentially is a four door interpretation of the quick Golf.
In fact, Volkswagen has even chosen to cherrypick bits from the Golf R as well, such as its larger 340mm vented brake rotors - likely due to the Jetta’s inherent extra weight over the hatch. Importantly, the GLI inherits the GTI’s 2.0-litre turbocharged EA888 four-cylinder engine and an output of 170kW and 350Nm.
Interestingly, VW are making a 6-speed manual transmission the standard fit, leaving the staple DSG automatic as a cost-option to deliver drive to the front wheels. Elsewhere, the GLI borrows even more from the GTI playbook, mimicking its colour scheme here in a dark grey exterior, honeycomb front grille, and the classic red accenting. The new 18-inch wheels, too, trespasses on the GTI aesthetic but are in fact specially designed for the new Jetta GLI, and the same can be said of the interior.
To ensure the car performs as it should, it has been kitted out with independent sports suspension at all four corners, a 15mm lower ride height, as well as the Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive damper system, torque vectoring, and a limited slip front differential. No official word on acceleration times or top speed as of now, though we imagine it to not be far off from the Golf GTI’s 6.5 seconds sprint.
After all, this new North American-specific Jetta generation already brought itself and the global Golf model much more into alignment with the shared MQB platform. Save for the larger boot and obvious changes in dimensions, they are be rather identical under the skin, likely translating into a very similar driving experience.
“Volkswagen has long been synonymous with small, sporty cars,” said Scott Keogh, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “The redesigned 2019 Jetta proved once more that its combination of design, technology and value continues to resonate with buyers. The 2019 GLI takes the Jetta foundation and adds performance features from the Golf GTI to give buyers a true sport sedan.”
Since the car’s official unveil in Chicago and warm reception, the company has even been hinting at the possibility of adding an even more capable Jetta R to the lineup, replete with the Haldex 4Motion all-wheel drive system and engine output exceeding 220kW.
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