Car Moon

The Volkswagen brand has reported U.S. sales of 28,444 units in June 2011 recording a 35.1 percent increase over the same month a year ago. The German firm’s year-to-date-sales are up by 22.3 percent compared to 2010 at 154,125 units.

The most impressive increase in sales comes from the new Jetta, which was introduced to the American market in October 2010. The compact sedan’s U.S. sales totaled 14,513 units in June (+120.9%) and 76,498 cars from the beginning of the year, an increase of 77.2 percent over the same period in 2010.

Roman Jagatić is the latest addition to our ever-growing list of readers-turned-into spy photographers. Roman stumbled upon this strange looking Volkswagen-Skoda hybrid prototype parked at a gas station in Munich, Germany. The test car appears to combine a modified body of a Skoda Octavia with a Volkswagen front end.

While we do not have a definite answer to what it may be, possible scenarios include a test car for a new Skoda Octavia and a prototype for a Volkswagen-badged model for select markets outside Europe.

As the adage goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity and it is better to be reviled and even mocked at than to be ignored. In the case of Larry Roesch Volkswagon (that’s how the name of the German automaker is spelled on the dealer’s Youtube account), making the automotive ridiculist was intentional to grab some media and customer attention. And since we’re here talking about it, you could say that their goal has been achieved…

The VW dealer has published a series of intentionally cheap and corny commercials starring one of the company’s salesmen, Nick Pontarelli. In two of the videos, Pontarelli abuses a Volkswagen Golf GTI and a Jetta by forcefully shutting and climbing onto the doors to prove the cars' ‘German’ strength and quality. His final statement is “try that with a Hyundai or a Honda”. Watch the clips after the break.

When American buyers learned that the European market version of the Jetta came with better and more modern engines, improved materials and a four-link rear suspension system similar to that fitted to the Golf, they felt somewhat let down - even though these changes came with a hefty price increase for European consumers. Now, VW is trying to address some of these concerns with the presentation of the new Jetta GLI, which debuts today at the Chicago Auto Show.

Today, Volkswagen announced UK pricing information for its new Jetta sedan that is available to order now, with first customer deliveries due in May. In Europe, the Jetta is offered exclusively with turbocharged petrol and diesel engines with on-the-road prices starting from £16,960 (US$27,350) for the entry-level S 1.4-litre TSI 122HP model and top out at £22,320 ($35,990) for the Sport 2.0-litre TDI 140HP with a DSG transmission.

There are three trim levels to choose from (S, SE and Sport), with all models fitted with air conditioning, an MP3 compatible CD stereo, six airbags, ABS, Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), an alarm and folding rear seats as standard.

Powering the Jetta is a range of TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines. Currently, two petrol engines are offered, 1.4-liter TSI with 122-horses and a twincharged 1.4-litre TSI unit developing 160HP.

Chrysler and Volkswagen have issued massive recalls, affecting a combined total of almost 600,000 vehicles. The American automaker is recalling 367,350-2008MY Chrysler Town and Country/Dodge Caravan MPVs, while Wolfsburg’s finest will notify 228,236 owners of Golf, Jetta sedan, Jetta Sportwagen, New Beetle and Rabbit models, manufactured between 2006 and 2010 that their vehicles are being called in.

Suspension aficionados H&R have gotten their hands on the new Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 and decided to give it a once-over with some low-key modifications. After the Jetta arrived at H&R's US headquarters, the first pieces to get the ax were the springs (obviously).

Now, the brand new Jetta VI rides 1.3 inches lower thanks to a set of Sport springs in order to help the small sedan handle a bit better. The next items to go were the rims, which were replaced with 19x8.5 O.Z. Superturismo LM wheels (and TRAK + wheel spacers) to complement the car's handling and appearance.

Volkswagen's new 2011 Jetta has just landed on European shores, but Germans already have new plans for it. During the European press launch, the media got a taste of the Jetta R with a special prototype fitted with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, six-speed DSG transmission and Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

As you can see in the pictures, the V6 prototype's body has not been altered yet. Only the bigger wheels and four-tail pipes at the back signal that there's something going on here.

Should it make into production, you can rest assured that the R division will dress-up the Jetta with a body kit, probably featuring more aggressive spoilers, lowered side sills and other R goodies, plus interior appointments. We reckon racing seats, sportier steering wheels and pedals are safe bets.

After the USA , Europe is also getting the new Volkswagen Jetta sedan, with prices starting from €20,900, equal (but not comparable due to different taxation policies etc) to US$28,984 with the current exchange rates.

Even though the Jetta is the best-selling European car in the U.S. with up to 110,000 examples sold annually, the compact sedan's predecessors haven't really enjoyed the same success across the pond. However, the German automaker hopes that the new generation of the model will prove more appealing to European buyers.

Now we've officially seen it all; a body-kitted German station-wagon running on a [relatively] small displacement four-cylinder diesel engine as a Sheriff's Department patrol car. And all thanks to VW's decision to donate two custom-made Jetta SportWagen TDI vehicles to the law enforcement departments of the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County.

US government officials have launched an investigation into possible engine problems in the 2009 VW Jetta sedan and Sportwagen TDI diesel models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Tuesday it had received seven complaints on the aforementioned models alleging that while driving and without any warning, the engine limped and then stalled almost immediately.

We're still a couple of months away from the market launch of the new Jetta in the U.S., but Volkswagen is already teasing buyers about the goods from its accessories catalogue that will be available for order once the compact sedan goes on sale.

At the Waterfest event for VW and Audi enthusiasts, which took place this past weekend in New Jersey, the German maker showed off an example of the new Jetta kitted out with various parts including a body colored front apron with a lip spoiler, beefier alloy wheels in a black finish, side skirts and a boot lid spoiler.

The company did not release any details on the show car. For more photos, head over to the folks at VWvortex.

Yesterday we brought you the full performance specs as well as a new gallery of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. Now, the German automaker has dropped a B-roll video of the compact sedan with driving footage from San Francisco as well as the usual interior and exterior beauty shots. You can watch the video footage right after the jump.

Following on from its world premiere at a special event at New York's Times Square in June, Volkswagen has released more details and photos of the new 2011 Jetta sedan. Designed in Germany but built at VW's plant in Mexico, the sixth generation Jetta goes on sale in the U.S. in October with prices starting at US$15,995 (€12,450 at today's exchange rates). VW said European prices will be announced when ordering begins in individual countries.

The new four-door saloon has grown in dimensions measuring 182.7 inches (4.64 meters) long, 57.1 inches (1.45 meters) tall and 70.1 inches (1.78 meters) wide, making it 3.54 inches (90mm) longer than the previous Jetta, while the styling is sharper adopting VW's new design language.

Buyers in the U.S. and Canada will have a choice of three petrol engines, a 115HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 170HP 2.5-liter inline-five (if it makes you feel better, VW notes in the press release that this powerplant is derived from the Gallardo's V10...) and a 200HP 2.0-liter turbo four, plus a 140HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

In Europe, the Jetta will be offered with four petrol engines, all featuring turbocharging and direct-injection technology, producing between 105HP and 200HP, as well as two direct-injection turbo diesels with 105HP and 140HP. More details on performance and fuel economy figures in the press release after the jump.

Found on the trademark office, are these patent drawings of the Volkswagen Jetta Coupe, or as the German automaker named the concept version of the car at the Detroit Auto Show in January, the NCC (New Compact Coupe).

Those skimming the photos may notice a couple of changes over the concept model that was motivated by a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. These include the more production like grille and addition of fog lamps up front, and the visible exhaust tail pipes at the back.

Instead of taking the usual route of an international presentation at a major car show, Volkswagen chose to organize a special happening at Times Square New York to lift the wraps off the all-new 2011 Jetta sedan.

And being a NYC party, Volkswagen brought along hot singer Katy Perry to help out with the presentation and draw some extra attention to the car. Dressed in a pastel rubber-like outfit, Perry sang her hits 'I Kissed A Girl' (and she liked it) and 'California Gurls' dancing barefooted on top of the Jetta's hood. Obviously, she likes that too.

The new Jetta will go on sale in most parts of the world this fall. Larger and better looking than its predecessor, VW's Chevy Cruze and Honda Civic rival, will be offered with a variety of gasoline and diesel engines, with prices in the U.S. to start from $15,995 for the entry-level model.

Volkswagen proceeded today with the official unveiling of the all-new 2011 Jetta sedan that will go on sale in the U.S. this October with prices starting at $15,995 (about €13,050 at today's exchange rates). European-market availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.

As we pointed out yesterday after the first batch of photos were leaked online, the new Jetta's crispier exterior styling with the Audi-esque rear-end and Scirocco-like fascia was inspired / previewed by the NCC coupe concept car shown at the Detroit Show this past January.

For the first time, the new Jetta will not be sharing any body components with its Golf brethren, though underneath, the two models share most parts as the four-door sedan uses a modified version of the Golf's architecture.

Volkswagen was planning to reveal the first photos of its new 2011 Jetta online on Tuesday, June 15, but like most carmakers, the company also distributes photos to ahead of time, and well, Auto Express decided to release them prematurely.

As you can see in the gallery after the jump, the new Jetta is stylistically inspired by the NCC concept coupe shown at the Detroit Show earlier this year featuring a crispier and more elegant design than that of the outgoing model.

Inside, you'll have a hard time distinguishing the differences between the new and old Jetta. Oddly enough, VW did not go for the deeply recessed main dials of the Golf VI opting instead for a more plain looking instrument panel.

[Updated] Ford isn't the only company teasing the online reveal of a new model -the 2011 Explorer- today. So is Volkswagen that has just launched a dedicated countdown page on its U.S. website for the all-new 2011 Jetta saloon. According to the German company, the sixth-generation of its bread-and-butter sedan will be revealed to the world live on June 15 at 11:25 a.m. EST / 8:25 a.m. PST.

The folks over at GM Inside News have a mystery car on their hands. Forum member 'GMfan1111' snagged a pair of identical sedan models, both of which featured an unfamiliar badge on the boot.

We'll agree with most members from the forum that the car's styling cues including the pronounced lower side lines and the shape of the fascia, as well as its relatively compact dimensions point towards the next generation of the Volkswagen Jetta (see a spy video of the 2011 model here).