Following on from its world premiere at a special event at New York’s Times Square in June, Volkswagen has released more details and photos of the new 2011 Jetta sedan. Designed in Germany but built at VW’s plant in Mexico, the sixth generation Jetta goes on sale in the U.S. in October with prices starting at US$15,995 (€12,450 at today’s exchange rates). VW said European prices will be announced when ordering begins in individual countries.

The new four-door saloon has grown in dimensions measuring 182.7 inches (4.64 meters) long, 57.1 inches (1.45 meters) tall and 70.1 inches (1.78 meters) wide, making it 3.54 inches (90mm) longer than the previous Jetta, while the styling is sharper adopting VW’s new design language.

Buyers in the U.S. and Canada will have a choice of three petrol engines, a 115HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 170HP 2.5-liter inline-five (if it makes you feel better, VW notes in the press release that this powerplant is derived from the Gallardo’s V10…) and a 200HP 2.0-liter turbo four, plus a 140HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

In Europe, the Jetta will be offered with four petrol engines, all featuring turbocharging and direct-injection technology, producing between 105HP and 200HP, as well as two direct-injection turbo diesels with 105HP and 140HP. More details on performance and fuel economy figures in the press release after the jump.

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In: Carscoop

The tuners at B&B have released three new stages of performance for the popular Volkswagen Scirocco R. In the first stage, an upgrade to the ECU and the electronic injection system were tuned to squeeze out 306 bhp with 410 Nm of torque from the engine. With those numbers the Volkswagen Scirocco R was able to reach a top speed of 275 km/h. The second level of upgrades include a new exhaust downpipe, air flow system, ignition, and fuel injection to produce 320 bhp and 435 Nm of torque, while reaching a top speed of 279 km/h. Upgrades to the turbo and full exhaust come next with the third package from B&B.

At the third level of upgrades, B&B installed their special turbo on the Volkswagen Scirocco R, along with a high performance sport exhaust system and new intake system. With the new aftermarket parts, the VW Scirocco has a power output of 357 bhp and 480 Nm of torque at 2,600 rpm. It also reached its highest top speed of 280 km/h, and we have the prices for you. B&B announced the pricing for this Scirocco tuning kit at 1,198 euros for the first level, the second stage for 2,798 euros, and the third level at 7,998 euros.

In: Fancy Tuning

JE Design is well known for tuning Seat cars, but now have taken on the Volkswagen Polo V to add to their latest projects. The car tuners created a unique package for the VW Polo V with a new aero kit. Giving it a sports car look is a redesigned front bumper, headlight eyebrows, side skirts, rear bumper, and a new rear spoiler. LED daytime running lights were integrated into the bumper, and the exterior styling was finished off with a nice set of alloy wheels available in either 17 or 18-inch sizes. The new set of wheels have an orange lip painted to match the Volkswagen Polo V striking colors.

The VW Polo V body was painted a bright orange with black racing stripes, and JE Design installed a new suspension system to make it look more aggressive. Customers can choose from either a KW coilover suspension kit, or just lowering springs if they have a small budget. The KW system can drop the car up to 65 mm, while the sport springs only lower it 35 mm. The interior of the JE Design Volkswagen Polo V received a complete leather treatment with orange embroidered logos on the seats, seat heating, and an optional massage system placed in the seats.

In: JE Design

Here is something you don’t see everyday, a Volkswagen Touran MPV, or minivan family car that received extensive tuning by MR Car Design. The tuners decided to give it a shot, and released a unique sports package for the VW Touran. From the factory, the vehicle features a 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine, which MR Car Design performed some ECU tuning on. They also fabricated a custom stainless steel exhaust system to bring the numbers to 223 hp and 457 Nm of torque.

It even received a new suspension kit and high performance braking system! The lowering system dropped the mini-van 80mm, while the brakes received an upgrade from Stoptech with their 4-pistion calipers. Even though it is a Volkswagen Touran family van, MR Car Design gave it a sporty look with white racing stripes, and new set of white 19-inch alloy wheels from RC Design.

In: MR Car Design

Well recognized Volkswagen and Audi tuning specialists, B&B, have released their latest performance program for the sporty VW Golf R. Transforming the current Volkswagen Golf R into a hot sports car is mostly performance tuning to the engine bay, with little done to the exterior of the cars styling. This new package from B&B has been developed into 3 separate stages, all with impressive power numbers. Customers can choose to have their Golf R boosted to either 310 hp, 324 hp, or 362 hp. At the highest stage of 362 hp, the B&B VW Golf R is able to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds, and reach a top speed of 280 km/h.

They were able to reach these striking numbers by adding a larger turbocharger, sport exhaust system with custom downpipe, sport catalysts, and a much needed ECU tuning. Additionally, the modified Volkswagen received an aftermarket intake, and revised air cooling system. B&B also offers a special slim-line oil cooling system to keep the oil temperature stable. The stance you see on this VW Golf R is definitely not stock, and the tuners hooked it up with special sport springs to drop the car 30 mm. Topping off the exterior styling are the B&B 5-spoke rims available in either 19, or 20-inch sets.

In: automobilesreview

The car tuning company from Belgian, Caractere, have released these pictures of the modified VW Golf VI GTI which joins the latest tuned Volkswagen cars. The new look of the Golf GTI highly resembles Caractere’s previous work on the Volkswagen Scirocco, but with four door capabilities. It features a new PURim technology body kit to make the car appear much more aggressive, while improving the aerodynamics. Included in the aero kit is a redesigned front bumper, side skirts, new rear spoiler, and roof spoiler.

Performance increases were accomplished with the addition of a larger aftermarket intake, and an integrated full exhaust system. Caractere also offers LED lighting throughout the VW Golf VI GTI, and hooked up the car with a nice wheel package. Available in either 19 or 20-inch sized rims, are the tuning firms custom CW1 wheels. This one-of-a-kind tuning kit for the Volkswagen Golf will be launched around the spring of 2010.

In: Caractere

The German tuners at Hofele Design have released this all new body kit for the Volkswagen Touareg dubbed the Dakar 20.10 package. They named it after the success VW had at the Rally Dakar and the Race-Touareg it participates in. Installed on the Volkswagen midsize SUV is a new aero kit with a blacked out front grille. A stainless steel underbody protection plate was hooked up underneath, and the VW Touareg received aftermarket side steps as well.

A new set of wheels you see pictured are included, coming from the Prado designer rims, and finished in a silver color with a stainless steel lip. The rims measure 9×20 and come wrapped in 265/45R20 high performance tires. Since the ideas came from the Dakar Rally, Hofele Design placed Dakar 20.10 stickers all around the Volkswagen Touareg. This is the only image released so far because it is a limited edition package, but more should come when the pricing is announced.

In: Fancy Tuning

A new styling kit for the Volkswagen Golf VI GTI has been released by RevoZport, called the RZR package. It should be available around February 2010 from the company who specialize in producing carbon fiber and special composite material products. Several other cars that RevoZport customizes include BMW, Lotus, Ferrari, and Mercedes. The latest tuning kit for the VW Golf VI GTI includes a new front bumper with LED lights, front splitter, vented bonnet, side skirts, fender flares, rear bumper, and a spoiler extending from the roof.

The majority of the parts included in the body kit are made of Pultruded Fiber Reinforced Plastic and Carbon Fiber composite materials. These new car styling pieces are manufactured through a vacuum formed infusion technology, which is the latest technology used to construct car body kits. The new vented bonnet you see pictured is made from carbon fiber kevlar so it weighs only 4kg. Since RevoZport is more about the cars looks, they only added some minor performance tuning with an ECU remapping and aftermarket exhaust system. These two additions bring the redesigned Volkswagen Golf VI GTI RZR to 270 horsepower.

In: carsroute

Over the past few years, LEDs have worked their way into automotive lighting, initially on high-end luxury and sports cars, but lately, on an increasing number of mainstream vehicles. In what the company claims to be a ‘first’ in the compact segment, Volkswagen has developed new LED rear lights for the sportiest variants of the Golf VI.

Initially, the LED tail lamps will be offered as standard on the recently revealed 270HP Golf R and as an option for €350 or approximately US$520 on the 210HP Golf GTI and its diesel-sibling, the 170HP Golf GTD.

Volkswagen said that each smoked rear light consists of two curved right angles, each angle containing eleven LEDs plus one central LED above each curve. If you do the math, that comes to a total of 48 LEDs.

Aside from the cool-look factor, the LED rear lights are practically maintenance-free and extremely fast with their response time to brake activation said to be 0.2 second faster than that of conventional incandescent lights. The company said that this time difference translates to 5.6 meters braking distance at a speed of 100 km/h or 62mph.

Golf buyers can combine the LED tail lights with bi-xenon head lights with dynamic cornering light that vary the lighting direction as a function of the steering angle. The headlamps are standard on the Golf R and optional on all other Golf models with prices starting from €1,295 (US$1,900).

In: Carscoop

Under the agreement, VW will buy a 19.9 per cent stake in Suzuki Motor Corp for 225 billion Yen (approx US$2.5 billion) while the Japanese automaker will invest up to one half of the amount received from the German automaker into shares of Volkswagen.

The move comes only a few days after the Volkswagen Group announced that it acquired a 49.9% stake in Porsche AG’s car operations for €3.9 billion.

Volkswagen plans to make the best of Suzuki’s expertise in small, fuel-efficient cars as well the Japanese firm’s presence in India where it controls Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the maker of half of all cars sold in the country.

At a joint press conference in Tokyo, Suzuki Chief Executive Officer Osamu Suzuki said that the two companies also plan to develop hybrid and electric vehicles under both brands.

“As demand continues to rise for smaller cars and for powertrains with higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 output, Volkswagen and Suzuki will offer a compelling solution for customers in emerging markets buying a car for the first time and also for customers in advanced economies seeking to lower their CO2 footprint while still enjoying the freedom of transport offered by an exciting range of cars,” VW said in a prepared statement to the press.

In: Carscoop