WOLFSBURG, GERMANY and AJAX, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 06/15/10 -- Today, in Times Square, New York City, Volkswagen is presenting an entirely redesigned all-new Jetta. This model has a global presence with 9.6 million units sold already, and it is a best selling model for Volkswagen in Canada and the U.S.A. Well over 400,000 Jettas have been sold in Canada alone after five generations since its introduction in 1980, placing it second only to the original Beetle in overall sales here since Volkswagen Canada's inception in 1952.

Now, the follow-up model to the most successful German brand sedan in North America takes a gigantic leap forward, both conceptually and especially in its styling. Its new design projects a more dynamic image than ever before. The NCC (New Coupe Concept) car shown earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto offered a preview of the new Jetta's styling. Designers of the new Jetta sedan drew their inspiration from the coupe, and this bodes well for the potential sports appeal of the new Jetta. This also means that the new Jetta will no longer be sharing body components with the Golf; rather, it will be a separate vehicle type that is just as independent as the Passat CC or the Tiguan.

The new Jetta's dimensions are re-proportioned compared with those of the NCC concept car and the previous 5th generation Jetta model: Both the wheelbase (+ 73 millimeters / + 2.87 inches) and the exterior length (+ 74 mm / + 2.91 in) now grow significantly. The perceptible results are clear: superior performance, more space, and greater comfort.

Designers and engineers have also re-designed the interior down to the finest details; the quality and attention to detail inside this new five-seater now exceeds the traditional compact class boundaries. With a decidedly comfortable interior and a design that is as stylish as it is powerful, the new Jetta is taking on fully the automotive challenges of our times.

German Engineering is the key word that captures the attention of many customers in Canada, and with Volkswagen it stands for higher quality and efficient technology in a vehicle that is affordable. The new Jetta is a prime example of this, and a look at its various power train technologies illustrates this clearly. For example, with a turbodiesel featuring highly advanced common rail direct injection, the Jetta sets the benchmark. Already the most affordable Clean Diesel sedan in Canada, the Canadian version of the new Jetta equipped with an optional 140 HP TDI Clean Diesel will deliver excellent fuel economy and superior driving performance. This makes the new Jetta not only one of the most fuel-efficient compact sedans on the market, but also one of the most affordable and fun-to-drive as well.

In addition, Volkswagen has tailored the new Jetta's Canadian equipment versions (Trendline, Trendline +, Comfortline, Sportline, and Highline) to consistently meet the wishes, and also fit the budgets, of Canadian drivers. It has developed a sedan that is one of the best in its class in terms of quality and fuel economy without sacrificing driving performance or comfort.

Clear Focus in North America

One of Volkswagen's recipes for success is a clear focus on its customers. Since the days of the Beetle built by Ferdinand Porsche, this focus has made Volkswagen unique among high-volume car makers. The new Jetta is guiding this philosophy into the future - with its low fuel consumption, excellent vehicle dynamics, and a comprehensive safety concept. Electronic Stability Control is standard on all 2011 model year Volkswagens sold in Canada, including the new Jetta. Based on the results of independent crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S., the previous model was already named a "Top Safety Pick". The car's top-rated crash safety rating has now been enhanced by further pedestrian protection. In parallel, Volkswagen has developed a second version of the safety chassis designed especially for North America.

Exterior styling and dimensions

Never before has a Jetta offered this much room. The new model is 4.63 meters (182.2 inches) long, 1.45 m (57.2 in) tall, and 1.78 m (70.0 in) wide. As noted previously, this makes the new Volkswagen Jetta presented in New York 74 mm (2.91 in) longer than the previous model. This new interplay of exterior dimensions leads to a powerful balance of proportions, while the new Volkswagen 'Design' sharpens the car's styling. This has resulted in clear, precise lines producing athletically muscular surfaces, and lends a timeless elegance and dynamic styling to the sedan.

Front end: Here, the prominence of horizontal lines defines the design of the new Jetta. The high-gloss black radiator grille combines with the car's trapezoidal headlights to form a styling unit. Under the unit formed by the grille and headlights, there is a fully painted bumper which is designed as a cleanly sculpted surface. One section lower, another cooling air intake and the tray-shaped front spoiler (in the style of 'splitters' used in car racing) gives the car a sporty finish. The upper front-end section of the new Jetta shows a powerful transition from the V-shaped engine hood to the fenders on the sides; the shoulder section realized here is derived 1:1 from the NCC concept car, and it produces dynamic and muscular styling.

Side profile: In the side profile of this new sedan, styling characteristics that mark all new Volkswagens launched during the past year meld into yet another interpretation of Volkswagen's 'Design' conceptualized by the Head of Design for the Volkswagen Group, Walter de'Silva, and the Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand, Klaus Bischoff. The best examples of this can be found in the characteristic shoulder, or 'tornado' line, and the powerfully emphasized arches of the wheel wells of the new Jetta. Formally, they intersect the main volumes of the large homogeneous surfaces to convey a strong dynamic image. Thanks to wide track dimensions, the wheel arches also form a precise transition - as though cut with a knife - to accommodate up to an 18-inch wheel. Meanwhile, the styling of the outside mirrors with their integrated turn signal indicators emulates the larger Passat CC. Compared to the previous model, the new Jetta has also grown in clarity and pre-eminence in its side profile.

Rear section: Harmonized surfaces and sporty shoulders also dominate the look in back of the new Volkswagen Jetta. The taillights are powerful in illumination and visually distinctive. They are split into two sections, and on each side they extend from the fender into the tailgate.

Interior and dimensions

The interior with its high-end image definitely pushes the boundaries of the compact vehicle class. Here, the new Jetta is significantly increasing its lead over the competition. One key benefit of the car's extended wheelbase is that it enables a layout of the rear seating area of the five-seat new Jetta to be substantially more comfortable. Compared to the previous model, rear legroom is now a long 96.7 cm (38.1 in) - a gain of 6.7 cm (2.6 in).

Inside, the new Jetta also offers unparalleled perfection in details, and - as a common conceptual thread throughout the car - intuitive controls. The instruments are ideally arranged. The new steering wheel designs (optionally with multifunction keys) impress both visually and to the touch. The right hand rests ergonomically on the gear shift grip; further up on the center console are the newly designed and intuitive controls for the climate control and radio and optional radio-navigation systems; this console section is slightly inclined toward the driver for an ideal alignment of the cockpit that focuses on the driver's needs. Also in optimal view are the round instruments, and the optional multifunction display (trip computer) is located between them. Even in the Trendline entry version, the rear bench seatback is split 40/60 and folds, increasing the car's versatility and cargo space.

Six airbags, including driver and front passenger front airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, and front and rear Side Curtain Protection©, are also part of the standard equipment package for the new Jetta.

Fuel-efficient engines

Four engines for Canada: In Canada, the new Jetta will be offered with three gasoline engines and one turbo-diesel direct-injection engine (TDI Clean Diesel). A new engine is offered: the entry-level engine (115 HP), while the award-winning and ever-popular common rail fuel-efficient TDI Clean Diesel producing 140 HP and 236 lbs-ft of maximum torque continues in the new Jetta. Technically perfected in the new model are the 170 HP 2.5-liter 5-cylinder gasoline engine and the sporty top engine, the turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injection gasoline TSI with 200 HP. This latest engine will also power the top model Jetta GLI in North America starting in 2011.

A technical highlight is the 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel; thanks to conversion to the world's leading direct injection diesel system - common rail injection - the turbocharged engine is as quiet as a gasoline engine and as powerful as a sports car engine. A particulate filter and a NOx storage catalytic converter ensure that this TDI meets emissions requirements across Canada and in all states of the U.S.A. Projected fuel economy figures will make the new and very agile Jetta 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel one of the most fuel-efficient and lowest emitting vehicles on the North American continent.

All engines are offered with a manual transmission as standard equipment. Of course, an automatic transmission is also available with each engine version as an option. On the 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel and 2.0-liter TSI, the new Volkswagen Jetta will be offered with the optional 6-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) - one of the most advanced and fuel-efficient automatic transmission systems in the world.

The new Jetta will be available for sale at Volkswagen Dealers across Canada this fall, and definitive Canadian pricing will be announced in July.

Visit www.vw.ca for more information on the new Jetta, and receive regular updates on news about its arrival in Canada this fall.