New TDI in NB anytime soon?

[LauraLadyBug]

I have been reading about the newer more fuel-efficient and cleaner TDI. ALl the articles (and VW's own website) only mention the Jetta. Has anyone heard whether they plan on releasing it in the NB anytime soon? If not, I'm getting a Jetta this sumer as soon as available. My '01 now has 87K miles and getting tired paint and interior. (She still looks pretty good, though, and still fun to drive).
I would love love love all these great features to be available in a Beetle.

[Smileybug]

No plans for it in the near future. They aren't even putting it in the Rabbit. But its going in the Jetta and the Tiguan I believe.

[LauraLadyBug]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

No plans for it in the near future. They aren't even putting it in the Rabbit. But its going in the Jetta and the Tiguan I believe.

Darn, darn, darn! And dang it!

I want a clean diesel so I can afford to drive again. Gas is $3.79 locally and my NB only gets around 30 highway. Dang!

[Fowvay]

No Rabbit, Phaeton (ya we're getting that thing again), Passat or New Beetle TDi planned for the North American market place.

Seems Volkswagen is bound and determined that no matter how good they get they have to shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to us.

[SMG]

Canada gets the Rabbit TDI next year!!!

In a Beetle? Not happening. You'd better start reading Autotrader if you want one.

[jimlockey]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

No plans for it in the near future. They aren't even putting it in the Rabbit. But its going in the Jetta and the Tiguan I believe.

Darn, I was going to buy a new TDI this fall.

[AceJay]

Originally Posted by jimlockey

Darn, I was going to buy a new TDI this fall.

I believe the Euro-spec Beetle is available with it. They have so many options, and we have none.

[dnyed]

VW would be smart to offer the NB and Rabbit in TDI versions. What gives?

I would get one in a heartbeat. (NB, that is.... )

[Beetlescott]

Yes, what gives? first the cutting back of accesories like floor mats and such, now no TDI. I was told when I bought Opie in summer of 06, that it would come out by the Fall of 08. The New Beetle was a very high selling car when they first came out, it looks like VW would show a little respect.

[Deserion]

The NB is essentially dead in its current form. Sales are okay, yes, but as we can see by VW's past performance on niche cars (aka Cabrio), they tend to neglect them in old age. The NB probably won't last too much longer, honestly. Later this year, it'll be a car introduced two platforms ago (1997). Perhaps they could put one of the newer designs on a fresh Polo chassis, but who knows what they're going to do with it.

We won't get a Mk5 Rabbit (Golf) TDI. Why? Mk6 production is starting in Germany this fall.

[fohveh]

The "Rabbit" badge is actually being replaced in 2010 with....get this.....GOLF? The Beetle is apparently getting a serious overall and possibly skipping platforms (Mk5). Europe gets the Scirocco and we get a souped up Beetle, which may be the Scirocco but with an overhauled Beetle body, the usual cost saving schemes. This comes from VW in Germany not hype. And the Passat is getting the clean diesel engine but it will be pricey as the car will be much bigger, sort of looks like the big wide Mercedes. All the changes are expected in 2010. The Jetta, the cheaper production car, gets the TDI first so sales can transition and they'll go from there with the interest in the motor. The Jetta by the way has set a Guinness world record for mileage and killed the Prius.

[mrchaotica]

Originally Posted by fohveh

The "Rabbit" badge is actually being replaced in 2010 with....get this.....GOLF?

My November 2008 issue of Car and Driver has this to say about the 2010, 6th-generation Golf/Rabbit, on page 35-36:

Originally Posted by Car and Driver

U.S.-bound Rabbits will be powered by the current 170-hp, 2.5 liter inline five-cylinder engine and the recently introduced 50-state-legal 140-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel four-cylinder.

It also talks about a possible turbocharged 1.4L rated at 40MPG (maybe C&D means the TSI?), various transmission choices, engines for the GTI, etc.

And speaking of the name (later in the same article):

Originally Posted by Car and Driver

Interestingly, VW has not decided whether to keep the Rabbit moniker in the U.S. or return to the Golf nameplate.

Personally, I hope they keep calling it a "Rabbit" -- I like the emblem they stick on the hatch.

To get back on topic, I personally would be just as happy (or happier, really) with a Rabbit TDI than I would with an NB TDI, at least if the NB continued to be Golf-based (but a rear-engined, Up!-based NB could change that...).