Volkswagen today launched their new Jetta TSI Sports racer for the UK Volkswagen Racing Cup. Featuring both super- and turbocharging, this saloon should be both faster and more reliable than LaDainian Tomlinson. The addition of the engine-driven supercharger and exhaust gas-powered turbo should provide motivation down low and up high, boosting power to 230 horsepower, an increase of 60 horsepower over the previous incarnation. In addition to racing goodies, the Jetta also gets a sleek paint job. For those with braille readers, the paint says: JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA, JETTA. Press release below the jump.
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TSI RACER MAKES DEBUT AT AUTOSPORT SHOW
Volkswagen's latest track challenger, a supercharged and turbocharged Jetta saloon, was unveiled today (Thursday) in Britain.
The Jetta TSI Sport made its debut at the Autosport International racing car show at Birmingham's NEC, taking centre stage on the British Racing and Sports Car Club stand. The new machine will take to the track for the first time on Easter Monday (24 March) in the opening round of the Hankook-backed Volkswagen Racing Cup, at Oulton Park.
In road-going form the Jetta's 1.4-litre, 16-valve engine produces 170 PS but the engineers at Volkswagen Racing UK, with the help of their technology partners at Superchips, Milltek Sport and Turbo Dynamics, have boosted this to 230 PS.
The TSI power unit was proven in competition last season under the bonnet of a Golf; Volkswagen Racing UK's Melissa Wright believes that the Jetta TSI is a potential race winner: 'We learned a lot about the engine during the course of 2007 and we have incorporated that knowledge into the new installation,' she said. 'In the right hands and with some development mileage under it, the new car will be a front-runner, I am sure.'
The TSI features an engine-driven supercharger and an exhaust gas powered turbocharger, arranged in series; the supercharger operates at lower engine speeds and the turbo cuts in as revs rise. The result is excellent driveability and performance throughout the rev range, with no turbo lag and high maximum torque.
It's not only in Britain that the Jetta will be cutting a dash this season - the Sports Car Club of America is to stage a championship for turbodiesel-powered machines. The Jetta TDI Cup will launch in May.
In the UK, the Jetta TSI Sport will be raced by selected motoring and motor sport journalists. The Volkswagen Racing Cup expands to 14 rounds this year and will once again be the chief saloon-race support to the British Formula 3 and British GT Championships.
The Volkswagen Racing Cup in association with Hankook is further supported by Augustus Martin, Castrol, ECM Vehicle Delivery, Milltek Sport, Mondial Assistance, KW Automotive, Superchips, TNT Logistics, Turbo Dynamics, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Financial Services UK.
Jetta TSI Sport racing version
Engine capacity (litres / cc)
1.4 /1390
Configuration
4 cyl, 16v, turbocharged and supercharged
Engine management
Volkswagen Racing mapping
Power output (PS)
230 (standard model 170)
Drive
Front-wheel drive
Gearbox
Six speed sport ratios, limited slip differential
Clutch
Sintered metal plate
Exhaust system
Bespoke race system with race catalyst
Shell
Production shell, fully stripped
welded-in multi-point roll cage to FIA standard
Safety
Recaro HANS racing seat, six-point harness, plumbed-in extinguisher system
Steering
Power assisted rack and pinion
Brakes
360 mm VWR ventilated front discs,
12 pot calipers
VWR ventilated rear discs,
ABS disabled
Adjustable bias
Front suspension
VWR two-way adjustable race dampers
Adjustable anti-roll bar
Solid bushes
Rear suspension
Multi-link production suspension, VWR two-way adjustable race dampers
Adjustable anti-roll bar
Solid bushes
Wheels
18 in BBS alloy wheels
Tyres
Hankook slick/wet
225/40 ZR18
Weight objective
1223 kg
Lubricants
Castrol
[Source: VW via World Car Fans]