Like the Volkswagen Golf GTI, but wish it had a trunk in place of a liftgate at the back? That’d be the Jetta GLI. And the latest word has it that the new model will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit come January.
The news comes from Autoblog.com.ar (via of Motor1), which spoke to José Carlos Pavone – head of design for Volkswagen do Brasil – at the launch of the new Jetta in South America, where it’s known as the Vento.
“I estimate that Vento GLI could be presented in January, during the Detroit Show,” Pavone told the Argentinian website. “The sports version was specifically designed for the tastes of the North American market,” and will have its own unique five-spoke alloys and a black roof.
More to the point, the new Jetta GLI is expected to borrow its 2.0-liter turbo four directly from the Golf GTI, where it produces 220 horsepower (164 kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. That’d bring the little sports sedan more in line with the hot hatch, instead of trailing behind it in power and performance as it has in the past.
That’d put it in a better position to take on the likes of the Honda Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra Sport, and Subaru WRX in the market for compact performance sedans, and give VW a more compelling offering for those who like their performance in a three-box shape. And if the report proves accurate, we can anticipate the new Jetta GLI’s debut in just a few months from now.
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