finally coming... i would drive the SNOT outta it!
When we saw the TDI Cup "Street" Edition at SEMA last year, all we could say was "build it." It seemed like a great idea to us. Combine the torquey and efficient 2.0-liter TDI with the dynamics of the sporty GLI, and the combination would be pretty enjoyable. It took Volkswagen a while, but during SEMA week 2009, the company has officially announced a date--well, a month--when the special edition will go on sale. That month is January, 2010.
We'll start with the most obvious components of the new package. The "Street" Edition wears all the same bodywork as the racecars, which means it gets the Cup Kit front bumper with a big gaping maw, side skirts, and a new rear valence. Some of you might know it as the "Thunder Bunny" kit that debuted on a SEMA Rabbit a few years back, but Volkswagen has since changed its name to connect it with the racing series. Additionally, the Cup Edition wears a set of 18-inch Charleston wheels with performance all-season tires.
This isn't just an appearance kit though, thankfully. While the street car doesn't get the track car's massive Audi R8 brakes, it does get upgraded brakes and red calipers from the GLI. That car also donates other parts, including larger sway bars and a sport-tuned suspension with a slightly lower ride height. Still, if you want a full-on race appearance, you'll want to hit the aftermarket for an even lower suspension kit. Inside, the Cup Edition gets the GLI's Interlagos cloth sport seats, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, and, with DSG, wheel-mounted shift paddles--something not offered with the basic TDI.
Under the hood, the TDI's 140 hp, 236 lb-ft turbodiesel goes unchanged, likely because of the cost and effort to certify the race car's 170-hp version of the engine. Transmission choices are the same as other TDIs, with a six-speed manual as standard and the dual-clutch automated transmission, DSG, as an option. It has the same $1300 tax rebate as other TDIs, which will be useful for getting a little money back from the $25,000 base price the TDI Cup "Street" Edition will carry.
We've been quite impressed with the latest Jetta TDI's power band and overall driving experience, but this new edition makes the car, already a model that dealers can't hang on to for long, even more desirable for people who care about both fuel economy and driving pleasure.
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