2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Chicago Auto Show

the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI to go on sale later this year, priced from $23,495. Volkswagen has brought its latest iteration of the new-for-2011 Jetta – the turbocharged GLI – to this year’s Chicago Auto Show. The Volkswagen Jetta’s  emphasized by larger 18-inch alloy wheels, a more aggressive front fascia and smoked taillamps, and when the whole package is painted in pull-me-over red, we can’t help but daydream about whipping the new Jetta GLI around our favorite set of twisty backroads.

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The Jetta GLI includes several features designed to enhance driver and passenger safety including electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and Volkswagen’s advanced Intelligent Crash Response System, which initiates automatic safety protection in some types of collisions – the electrical supply to the fuel pump is shut off, the doors unlock and the hazard lights switch on.

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The Jetta GLI appears eager to perform, too. Under the hood is Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, rated at 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Both a manual and dual-clutch transmission are available, the latter of which allows the Jetta GLI to achieve up to 32 miles per gallon on the highway. Not bad.

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The big change, of course, is that the GLI will benefit from a more sophisticated independent rear suspension than the standard Jetta, and VW has ported over its XDS cross differential technology from the GTI.

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2012-volkswagen-jetta-gli-chicago

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