"Volkswagen has an ambitious plan centered on a $4 billion investment to build an assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The new plant will be used to manufacture at least two new models but according to the automaker's U.S. chief, Stefan Jacoby, this is only the start of a full on North American market onslaught. "Above the midsize new sedan, which is being designed to compete against the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and will be available with both diesel and hybrid variants, Jacoby said Volkswagen has another product that could compete with the Toyota Avalon. Volkswagen Chief Lays Out New American Strategy -- Seeking Alpha Note: this is separate from rumors of a hybrid-diesel Golf, mentioned in another thread, http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-h...oduce-70-mpg-diesel-electric-hybrid-golf.html
May 2010 from Car and Driver: VW Volkswagen plans to bring Jetta hybrid to U.S. in mid-2012. Golf and Passat Hybrids to follow one year later, along with a 2013 EV Golf and EV Jetta. Volkswagen Confirms Hybrid Golf, Jetta, and Passat; Electrics to Follow - Car News - Car and Driver
Well, by the date of your link for the thread "hybrid-diesel Golf", we can be sure that rumours are just that, rumours. Two years gone and counting, the only VW hybrid is "about" to be sold, the VW Touareg. And it is a gasoline-hybrid. Both Toyota and Honda started with real economy principles more than a decade ago, while VW and BMW are now manufacturing their first hybrid solutions in SUV and luxury sedan formats. I wonder there are many tricky parts of designing an hybrid, and is lot easier to many a small quantity and get paid sooner. This is not surprising and most of all, environmently deceiveing. Why bother to save 20-50g CO2/km in a SUV that still is a two ton+ gas-guzzler anyway?
But... But... I thought the TDI was superior to hybrids! At least that's what they keep telling us here!
Yes, I did. But the news link does not describe the layout of the future VW Golf/Jetta hybrids... My comment: by the time VW is ready to launch a hybrid compact, Toyota is selling PHV Priuses, which shall be unbeatable in short commutes. Too late, rest of the world team.
I test drove a 2010 TDI Jetta. Noisy and slow. Would never buy one. I do not understand what the fuss is.