The new 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is getting its big reveal this very week, and already information is leaking out regarding the variants that will be coming down the road.
One of the most attention-grabbing of those tidbits concerns the GLI version of the model. This edition will not make it to the starting line as the same time as the Jetta proper, but it’s just a matter of time until it does.
The current Jetta GLI uses a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine delivering 210 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. Automotive website Autoblog has learned that the next edition will gain in power, even while relying on the same engine bloc. Output will grow to 220 horses and 258 lb-ft of torque, for a substantial gain that drivers are likely to feel at the wheel. The standard transmission will be a 6-speed manual, with an available 7-speed dual-clutch automatic as an option.
The good news continues from there. The new GLI will benefit from an independent rear suspension instead of the regular Jetta’s “soft” torsion beam. In effect, the sporty GLI version of the Jetta will get the rear suspension used in the Golf.
This leaves little doubt that the driving dynamics of the new GLI will be upgraded in comparison with the current version, which makes us all impatient to try the thing. Volkswagen has in fact promised that it will deliver quite a driving experience.
In the meantime, those wanting to lay their hands on one of the first 2019 Jettas will have to settle for the 1.4L 4-cylinder turbo engine, which does manage to produce a respectable 147 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. That last number will help ensure the new Jetta performs adequately, because the horses alone may not be sufficient for properly powering a model of this size.
The new Jetta GLI edition is expected to debut sometime in 2019; impossible to be more precise at this early stage…
