2018 Volkswagen Jetta will not launch in India.
To be held in January 2018, the North American International Auto show (NAIAS), Volkswagen released a teaser of the upcoming Jetta slated to be unveiled at the show. The 2018 Volkswagen Jetta underpins VW’s MQB platform and the teaser suggests a complete overhaul of the front with more defining headlamp and grille. The overall design of the new Jetta looks identical to that of the spy shot that leaked in October and confirms the validity of the same.
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The all-new Volkswagen Jetta is set for a global launch at the Detroit Motor Show and will be released officially on 18 January 2018. Following the confirmation, Hinrich Woebcken, CEO Volkswagen North America, exclaimed that the new Jetta will be “super-modern” and will feature an “emotional design” with coupè like the styling.
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2018 Volkswagen Jetta – Engine and Specifications
While most of the specifications remain concealed, what we can report is that the new Jetta will share its drivetrains with the current Tiguan SUV. The engine options on offer will include a brand new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine both featuring various states of tune. A 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit will also be available post-launch.
Why wouldn’t 2018 Volkswagen Jetta Launch in India?
The executive sedan segment has been shrinking in terms of sales in India with manufacturers offering compact-SUVs or MUVs instead. The trend of owning a vehicle with an increased ground clearance has resulted in the low sales volumes for sedans in the segment. While these SUVs do offer a more commanding driving position and the MUVs flaunting their interior space, the comfort, economy, and practicality of a sedan are nowhere near matched by the competition on stilts. While customers easily sway towards the SUVs Consider this, is a front-wheel-drive car even an SUV?
Volkswagen launched the Jetta back in 2011 with the facelift being offered in 2015. Both the variants of the executive sedan failed to bring in sales numbers while its cousin the Skoda Octavia(then Laura) has been pretty successful. The situation has been the same for the Jetta in all the other right-hand drive markets like Africa, the UK etc. In the UK alone, the Jetta couldn’t even bring in 10% of the numbers to that of the Golf. Hence, the company decided to not invest in the development of a right-hand drive model of the Jetta and would limit its sales to left-hand drive markets only. Stay tuned for more info on the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta.
