Volkswagen has launched the Jetta on 16th July visit the following url to know about the price and pictures.  http://www.vicky.in/straightfrmtheheart/volkswagen-launches-jetta/

To read the latest report on Volkswagen Jetta visit http://www.vicky.in/straightfrmtheheart/volkswagen-to-launch-jetta-in-india/

Jet Set go ..

India will receive the fifth-generation car currently in production in Germany as well.Based on the A5 Golf platform (also the basis of the Skoda Laura), the Volkswagen Jetta is a Golf hatchback with a boot but with better quality interiors and trim. The name Jetta is inspired by “jet stream” and has been in production for 27 years. Volkswagen which recently rolled out its passat sedan in India, is currently testing the Jetta sedan.  The jetta will start its Indian journey next year here’s a preview on ‘Volkswagen’s jetta’.

Engine and Transmission:

Volkswagen proposes to provide both petrol and diesel engines with the Jetta. Volkswagen Jetta may be powered by a 1.6L engine with FSI(Fuel Stratified Injection). 1.6-L FSI engine has an output of 81 kW (109 hp) at 5800 rpm and a maximum torque of 155 Nm  at 4500 rpm. Engine management is via a Bosch Motronic MED7. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Twin-clutch “DSG” six-speed gearbox, which operates either as an automatic or can be shifted manually via steering-wheel-mounted paddles is offered internationally but it will not be offered in Indian version. Since, Jetta weighs not only more than a like-sized Corolla, but also slightly more than the midsize Toyota Camry. Unless volkswagen tweaks chances are heavy that India will get a underpowered jetta. If this happens performance lovers in india will keep away from the car.

For diesel engines, volkswagen might borrow the 1.9-litre TDI engine from Skoda, as found in its Octavia model in India. The Euro III ready engine will allow Volkswagen to price the car competitively and keep it on a par with the likes of the Hyundai Verna CRDi and Ford Fiesta.

Design and Engineering:

Exteriors:

The most striking design element is the aggressive thrust and slope of the car’s snout. Compared to some other recent nose-forward designs, however, the composite headlamps and various inlets and grilles are well integrated into the Jetta’s raked rearward flow. A striking vee, created by the slant of the headlamps and sloping hood lines, is carried strongly toward the rear by the steeply raked windshield and character lines running along the flanks. The rear window is carried deeply into the well-defined C-pillar, accentuating the designers’ quest for a coupe-like sweep to the rear quarters. Flares at the four wheels blend into well-defined side skirts and, at the rear, into a lower valance panel accentuated by twin chrome-tipped tailpipes.

The car’s tail is a significant departure from previous Jetta styling. The whole structure appears longer, but the larger taillight clusters, now divided between the trunk and rear fender, help widen the proportion of the car’s hindquarters in relation to its height, giving the car a more substantial, less boxy-looking stern. Also helping to integrate the increased bulk of the trunk into the fenders is the coupe-like sweep of the C-pillar and the extensive rear window, which slants deeply into the trunkline.

Exposed windshield wipers were a pet peeve of former VW chairman Ferdinand Piech, and so he ordered that all future VWs would have hidden wipers. To aid in this design, a cowling now sits along the base of the windshield and cuts off some of the view over the nose of the car. It’s not a safety issue, but former VW owners will notice the difference right away. To Piech’s credit, the hidden wipers do indeed lend a more upscale look.

Jetta’s trunk seems larger than it is possible in a compact sedan (16 cubic feet). When you open the trunk lid it will rise to a completely vertical position, out of the way of any loading or unloading. Jetta’s trunk is completely carpeted and also has a storage cubby wall with four tie hooks. A glow-in-the-dark release handle in case anyone gets trapped inside.

Interiors

Front-seat passengers enjoy 38.5 inches of headroom and 41.2 inches of legroom, while rear riders get 37.2 and 35.4, respectively. The exterior and interior dimensions are near-matches for those of the Toyota Corolla, though the Jetta has notably greater trunk space.

Build and Quality:

Solidness is in the DNA of volkswagen family, we all love the skoda’s build quality, the same can be expected in the jetta. Volkswagen invested a large part of the investment in the Jetta towards increasing structural integrity. Jetta’s stronger structure forms not only a more solid grounding for suspension and drivetrain components, it also helps in reducing the unwanted noise from being transmitted into the cabin.

Jetta features fully independent suspension, with a multi-link rearend and struts at the front.  Volkswagen Jetta has a electro-mechanical power steering system that’s supremely accurate,  Jetta’s steering automatically corrects the car’s direction when external forces such as crosswinds threaten to move it off track. How indian customers is going to welcome this feature is to be seen, since this system is novel it will be disconcerting for drivers atleast intially.

Safety and special features:

Volkswagen might adopt different trim models with top-end versions of petrol and diesel featuring anti-lock braking system and airbags as standard. Jetta’s occupant safety is taken care not only by additonal safety features like anti-lock braking system and airbags but also while building the car too.

Three-point safety belts with emergency locking retractors are provided for all five passengers, and each position has an adjustable headrest. Jetta’s front seat belts also have pre-tensioners with load limiters for a more effective reaction, and the front headrests are active, automatically moving up and forward if the occupant’s torso is pressed back in the seat, as happens in many kinds of collisions. To help reduce leg injuries, the pedals get away from the driver in the event of a front-end collision.

Price and the launch:

Though Volkswagen solid engineering will help the jetta to fly on Indian roads easily. Jetta’s take off won’t be eas, it has tough roads to go, while 50% market holder Maruti Suzuki is moving up in the ladder chain (its SX4 rules this segment). In 2007 alone this entry level sedan segment received two new cars SX4 and logan, next year Honda will come with a new city, Tata will launch the new indigo and Toyota may launch its yaris sedan. Hence jetta’s way won’t be hurdle free also indians view skoda as a luxury car maker to get into the mass segment, volkswagen has to break the wall. Lastly Volkswagen has to get its dealer network ready before the launch of its products. Initially, Volkswagen will use its skoda’s aurangabad plant until its own plant start production in 2009. Jetta will be priced between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 9 lakh.