Jetta Diesel Delayed

[uglymoney]

This diesel market in the US plain sucks. Totally non-existent at the moment save for two ton trucks. My fiance needs a commuter and I'd been hoping to test drive the newest TDI when it came out this fall. Looks like a whole year of delay because of "downstream exhaust problems".

November 7, 2007
To: All Volkswagen Dealers
Subject: Clean Diesel TDI Launch
Dear Dealer,
I am writing to inform you that the North American introduction of the new Clean Diesel 2.0 li TDI for the Jetta Sedan and Wagon has been delayed from April 2008, to late summer 2008. We will remain the first volume brand offering Clean Diesel in the USA.

This situation is due to a technical issue that was found during the later stages of durability testing.

As disappointing as this is for all concerned, our first priority is to ensure that the integrity and quality of the new technology is not compromised, so as to maintain a trouble free launch.

A new SOP date has been confirmed for July by engineering, and we will initiate our ordering activities i.e. launch cars, dealer orders, etc. in spring. For image and competitive reasons, we are now working hard to bring early promotional cars into the Country in order to give you the chance to pre-sell the production arriving in October, during the Summer months. We will continue to promote Diesel through the Dieselution Tour, Jetta TDI Cup Series, and feature the technology as a part of our Brand Campaign
in the first half of the year.

For reasons of our mutual profitability, we are investigating a number of actions to make up a portion of the TDI shortfall, such as but not limited to, obtaining additional production of high demand product, ramping up the launch production, and speeding up shipment times of the new TDI, bringing in special edition cars etc.

The launch of all other new models planned for 2008 are on time; Jetta SportWagen, Tiguan, Passat Coupe, M-Van and Touareg 2 with V6 Clean Diesel TDI. With all of these new models coming into the market, and even with the delay of the new TDI, we are targeting to grow next year, and this delay will be discounted from the BPB objectives as we have always promised.

We must now take advantage of the launches that are before us, and not let this set-back to our growth strategy cause us to lose focus on the turnaround that we have begun. We appreciate your understanding of the situation and will keep you apprised of any further developments as soon as they are available.

Yours sincerely,
Adrian Hallmark

Subaru is still considering importing its new 2.0 liter 140 hp/250 ft/lbs torque, but is remaining tight lipped about when, and in what. An Outback diesel with an available five speed would be hard for me to resist.

• Diesel engine — The engine was on a stand here and is under serious consideration for the U.S. As shown, it's a two-liter, horizontally-opposed engine, the same layout as Subie gasoline engines. A boxer, it's called, because the pistons stroke back and forth horizontally, as boxers throwing punches. The version on display is rated roughly 140 horsepower, 250 pounds-feet of torque.

Subie isn't saying what car might get the diesel, or when it might hit the U.S.

Honda is talking diesel for 09. A four cylinder Accord would be a nice car but I think a little diesel Civic would be a world beater and a Jetta killer. The Accord is said to get 52 mpg highway. Pretty good. That motor in a Civic would kill though.

•Honda, already planning four-cylinder diesel engines for the U.S. market in 2009, probably in the Accord sedan, also will produce V-6 diesels for its truck models, a designation that includes the Odyssey minivan, Pilot SUV and Ridgeline midsize pickup.

Fukui didn't specify which would get the V-6 diesel, but did say the four-cylinder diesel "does not provide enough power for light trucks, so we are developing a V-6 diesel as well."

Honda previously has mentioned the V-6, but until Fukui's comments hadn't said which vehicles it could power.

The European-market Accord already has a diesel. And prototype, U.S.-specification diesel engines that Honda provided for test drives were installed in Accords.

Couldn't find anything on Hyundai and Kia, but I thought they had some US diesel plans up their sleeves as well.

[freezorburn]

Jeep Liberty Diesil nice little 4 wheel drive that can tow 7,000 pounds!

[uglymoney]

Jeep Liberty Diesil nice little 4 wheel drive that can tow 7,000 pounds!

Yep. Not available anymore though, at least not right now. Personally, I found the fuel economy figures for that truck to be a little disappointing when it was available, plus the lack of a five speed. I think Jeep has a diesel Cherokee available though or something now?

edit: Yep, available on 08 Grands 3.0 crd. 17/22 4wd. Not that impressive considering a 4-runner with a gas engine comes pretty close to that at 16/20. I guess I still need time to adjust to the new EPA numbers.

[Tye 1on]

nothing like an 83/84 Benz 300DT.
...just sayin....

[Cliff Huckable]

My fiance needs a commuter...

Every second person in Vancouver has one - and all the Yellow Cabs are Prius (SO quiet, like being in a limo).
That and all the glass buildings + all the helicopters flying around the skyline = city of the future.

[haydukelives]

the vw tdi was superior to the hybrid craze vehicles. its only our laws that have kept these turbo-diesels out of the us. and when they do come they are going to be a lot more expensive than necessary. the new sprinter van is an example, including a $1500 filter that previous models were just fine without.

[tigerstripe40]

Yep. Not available anymore though, at least not right now. Personally, I found the fuel economy figures for that truck to be a little disappointing when it was available, plus the lack of a five speed. I think Jeep has a diesel Cherokee available though or something now?

Jeep has offered a diesel Cherokee since the mid 90's.
They just never sold them in the US.

I wish Toyota would bring their diesels into the US. They make some of the cleanest, and smoothest diesels I've ever had the opportunity to drive.

[lemon boy]

if wishes wuz fishes we'd have some for dinner.

[mrw]

Don't be afraid of a used TDI. I bought a 99 type 3 with 86,000 miles on it.
Today, it has 248,900 miles on it. It has been THE most trouble free car I have ever owned. I have heard the engine is good for 500,000. I plan to test that theory. At 42mpg city and around 50mpg hwy, why would I even think of driving anything else?

Timing belt replacement is crucial.

[uglymoney]

I wish Toyota would bring their diesels into the US. They make some of the cleanest, and smoothest diesels I've ever had the opportunity to drive.

Looks like your not the only one. A quick google revealed no imminent US Toyota diesel plans, but it did reveal this online petition from people who think like you do and are letting Toyota know.

[uglymoney]

Don't be afraid of a used TDI. I bought a 99 type 3 with 86,000 miles on it.
Today, it has 248,900 miles on it. It has been THE most trouble free car I have ever owned. I have heard the engine is good for 500,000. I plan to test that theory. At 42mpg city and around 50mpg hwy, why would I even think of driving anything else?

Timing belt replacement is crucial.

I figure the time to buy one of these is a couple months after they release the new model. I like the idea of buying a used TDI but have a hard time making myself pay a premium for used cars that are in high demand.

[bagtagley]

Are they still calling it a TDI for marketing reasons? I thought they went to a common rail w/ the new design.

[Core Shot]

What about the V6 clean diesel TDI that is available in 2008?

They should shoehorn that into the Jetta and sell it to you for the same price.

[hev]

VW will continue to use the TDi branding for their new clean diesel offerings. The technology was developed jointly and some names were tossed around but VW felt they had too much brand equity built up in TDi to change names now. There should be some details on the vw.com site in the near future.

[hev]

What about the V6 clean diesel TDI that is available in 2008?

They should shoehorn that into the Jetta and sell it to you for the same price.

They're not importing any 08 TDi Jettas. It's an 08.5/09 model.

[Tye 1on]

CliffChuckable-
Cool pic of the SmartCar, got me googlin around a bit. Was surprised at the 40mpg estimate, would have thought more like 60 with the 1000 cc powerplant. Cool concept tho, which will only be cooler as gas prices ^^^^^^

[teambigdave]

Honda is talking diesel for 09. A four cylinder Accord would be a nice car but I think a little diesel Civic would be a world beater and a Jetta killer. The Accord is said to get 52 mpg highway. Pretty good. That motor in a Civic would kill though.

This: http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/h...-in-the-works/

would be killer. i'm not sure how they would make it a high revving type r but i would buy one tommorrow if i could

[uglymoney]

This: http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/h...-in-the-works/

would be killer. i'm not sure how they would make it a high revving type r but i would buy one tommorrow if i could

Chics would dig that thing too.

[Conundrum]

the vw tdi was superior to the hybrid craze vehicles. its only our laws that have kept these turbo-diesels out of the us. and when they do come they are going to be a lot more expensive than necessary. the new sprinter van is an example, including a $1500 filter that previous models were just fine without.

Going to have to disagree. We have both a hybrid and TDI in the household and I would take the hybrid over the TDI. Both are pretty cool though.

[mrw]

Doesn't VW/Audi have a 2cyl turbo diesel micro car that is Euro only getting like 70mpg?

[rideit]

I can't get a TDi due to the fact that it has ~3" of ground clearance...it would never make it up my driveway in the winter. Ever.

[Steven S. Dallas]

Subaru is still considering importing its new 2.0 liter 140 hp/250 ft/lbs torque, but is remaining tight lipped about when, and in what. An Outback diesel with an available five speed would be hard for me to resist.

Ugly, is this going to happen? I am going to pick up a Suby sometime in the next couple months; was looking for a used XT but if the diesel is coming in the next couple years I may lease until then.

[uglymoney]

Ugly, is this going to happen? I am going to pick up a Suby sometime in the next couple months; was looking for a used XT but if the diesel is coming in the next couple years I may lease until then.

Its just a guessing game right now. Its hard to tell which car will get the engine and what tranny the engine will be available with, and thats if they decide to import it. I've heard talk of mating the engine to a cvt, which wouldn't work for my needs. Maybe someone else has some inside info.

This is the latest official word.

http://www.drive.subaru.com/Summer07_diesel.htm

[hev]

Doesn't VW/Audi have a 2cyl turbo diesel micro car that is Euro only getting like 70mpg?

The 1-liter diesel prototype from VW averaged more than 200 m.p.g. in a drive from Wolfsburg to Hanover. The concept may never see production because of cost.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2007...ze-on-100-mpg/

[mrw]

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2007...ze-on-100-mpg/

cool car but the one I am thinking about looks like a shrunken Golf or even close to the new Fiat 500