The new high-end SEL Plus trim will see softer-touch materials in the interior, and like the GLI model, the American counterpart will more closely resemble all the upgrades and refinements seen in the European version, including electric power steering.
Our interest however is in the new 1.8-liter turbo-four that Volkswagen will be using in the Jetta, Passat, and Beetle models. Exact specifications aren’t known yet, but the 1.8T found in European Volkswagen models currently sports 158-hp and 185 lb-ft of torque, so we should expect more or less the same performance.
Originally it was believed that the German automaker would equip the Jetta and Beetle with a smaller 1.4-liter turbocharged powerplant, but in order to mainstream its production in the U.S. and to be more cost-effective, VW will likely offer less engine choices. The 1.4-liter turbo however will still be utilized in the Jetta hybrid which will be arriving later this year.
