Volkswagen NMS to Bring TDI Stateside

As we all know by now, Volkswagen is planning to increase its presence in the United States with the launch of a new so-called Mid-Size Sedan that will be manufactured by the new Chattanooga, Tennessee facility. However, the German carmaker managed to keep things secret for the time being, so only a few information are basically available at this point.

At the New York Auto Show however, VW's North American CEO, Stefan Jacoby, revealed that the car is going to feature a TDI engine in both the United States and Canada. The launch date remains 2011 but details on the engine remain scarce. However, various voices are suggesting that it will be the same engine currently available on the Jetta range - the 2.0-liter diesel that generates 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque.

Earlier reports on the subject indicated that Volkswagen's new mid-size sedan will be cheaper than Passat, with the price tag to go around $20,000. The car will replace Passat, which will continue to be sold in Europe. In the United States, Volkswagen' Passat is priced at $27,665 for the sedan and at $29,095 for the wagon version.

"The United States is one of the most important markets of the future for the Volkswagen Group. Our goal is to participate in the anticipated recovery on the US auto market and to achieve significant growth," Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Volkswagen AG with responsibility for 'Group Production', explained.

Volkswagen will continue however to build the CC sedan, marketed in Europe as Passat CC, in the United States, with the 2010 edition priced at $28,300.