Will the new Toyota Supra be the sports car we all want it to be? Well, based on unconfirmed specifications, it could be a little less than what we’d hoped for. Published on the SupraMKV forums, this information allegedly comes from a reliable source. They proclaim that the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six cylinder engine will produce 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, figures which have been speculated on in the past. 63,500 in the United States. 69,300. Positioning the new Supra against the Cayman is a brave move by Toyota and is perhaps a sign of just how confident the Japanese carmaker is in its new flagship. Elsewhere, these latest specifications indicate that the Supra will wear 19-inch two-tone five-spoke wheels, feature a digital gauge cluster, adopt BMW’s iDrive infotainment system with a new skin, and have a BMW steering wheel. Additionally, the cabin is said to be of Lexus quality and also includes a heads-up display. Final details suggest lane keeping assist will be featured alongside a pre-collision warning system and parking assistant. The exterior design is also said to be very similar to what renderings have previewed. If the aforementioned power specifications are true, it means the Supra’s brother from another mother, the BMW Z4, will offer greater performance. In fact, the car has already been confirmed to use a twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder in M40i guise with 380 hp.
The Jetta shares much of its underpinnings with the Rabbit/GTI hatchbacks. It sits between the Rabbit and Passat in Volkswagen’s lineup. The Jetta is the only nonluxury German small sedan and wagon for sale in the U.S., and it offers a stiff chassis, sporty handling, and clean styling inside and out. The Jetta SportWagen—that’s VW-speak for station wagon—is new this year. Both body styles are available in S, SE, and SEL trims. All sedans and S and SE wagons use a 170-hp five-cylinder engine. All S and SE Jettas can be had with a five-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode, and the SEL sedan is automatic only. The inline-five returns fuel economy of 20 mpg city/29 mpg highway with the automatic and 21/30 with the manual. If you want more punch for your Jetta, step up to the 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder, which pumps out 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. It’s a wonderfully responsive engine, and it’s available in the Jetta GLI—basically, a sedan version of the much loved, 10Best-winning GTI—and the SEL trim level of the SportWagen.
Transmission options include a six-speed manual and an optional six-speed dual-clutch automated manual (called DSG) with launch control. The punchy turbo four is relatively economical, too, with fuel economy coming in at 21/31 in manual form and 22/29 with the DSG. In its most recent comparison test appearance, a Jetta GLI placed first in a pack of fun-to-drive, everyday sedans, beating the likes of the Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Mazdaspeed 6, and Pontiac G6. With a 0-to-60-mph time of 6.4 seconds, the GLI is easily the quickest of the Jettas, and its sporty suspension won our praise in the twisty bits. Returning for 2009 is the diesel-fueled Jetta TDI, which is available as a sedan or wagon. The TDI packs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 140 hp and an impressive 236 lb-ft of torque. It can be mated to a six-speed manual or VW’s six-speed DSG. Perhaps most impressive, however, is the TDI’s ability to wring at least 40 miles out of every gallon of diesel on the highway. The EPA rates the Jetta TDI at 29/40 with the DSG and 30/41 with the manual.
Sophisticated emissions-control devices allow the TDI to be sold in all 50 states. Although they share much of their chassis components and styling, the Jetta somehow looks bulbous, whereas the Rabbit and the hot-rod GTI have a muscular air about them. Unless driving a conventional sedan is a must for you, it’s difficult to justify the added cost of a Jetta sedan over a Rabbit hatch. 1000 more than the five-door GTI. The SportWagen offers even more practicality and cargo room than the Rabbit and GTI but isn’t offered with the GLI and GTI’s sporty suspension. We often describe Volkswagen’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder as agricultural because of its rough sound and unrefined feel. It’s not a bad engine, but spring for a 2.0-liter engine—gas or diesel—if you can. Overall, the Jetta line offers a feeling of Euro solidness and some unique and truly Teutonic options, but it’s pricey against competitors like the Honda Civic, Chevy Cobalt, and Hyundai Elantra.
