New Performance VW Jetta GLI Will Debut Within A Year

Volkswagen introduced the 2019 Jetta at the North American International Auto Show earlier this year and a new report is suggesting it will soon be joined by a performance-oriented GLI variant.

In an interview with an unnamed Volkswagen representative, Autoblog was told the Jetta GLI will be introduced sometime in the next year. It will be unveiled at an undisclosed auto show and the publication speculations it could debut in Los Angeles this November or in Chicago next early next year.

Regardless of where the car is unveiled, it should be a significant improvement over the standard model as the representative reportedly confirmed it will eschew the torsion-beam rear suspension for a more modern multi-link setup. The representative also said the Jetta GLI will have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

It could get Golf GTI power with 220 horses

There’s no word on how much the engine will produce but the Golf GTI’s four-cylinder develops 220 hp (164 kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. If those numbers carryover to the Jetta, it would be a significant improvement over the turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder which produces 147 hp (109 kW) and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm) of torque.

VW Jetta R-Line

While the final numbers remain unconfirmed, the Jetta GLI will reportedly be offered with both a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Besides the performance modifications, the GLI should receive a handful of interior and exterior styling updates. If the outgoing model is any indication, the car could have sportier bumpers, unique side skirts and a honeycomb mesh grille. We can also expect some special interior touches which may include alloy pedals, a flat-bottom steering wheel and sport seats.

While the 2019 Jetta starts at $18,545, the Jetta GLI will likely be pretty pricey as the current model has a base price of $29,545.

Note: VW Jetta R-Line pictured