Volkswagen kicked off its Jetta TDI Cup race series a couple of weeks ago at VIRginia International Raceway with a close fought and exciting battle to the finish. This weekend they are heading north to another of the toughest tracks in North America at Mosport Park, north-east of Toronto. The Jettas will be racing as part of a program that includes the Mazda MX-5 Cup and the Canadian Touring Car Championship, among other races. This race will be something of a homecoming for the four drivers in the thirty driver lineup who hail from Canada. If you're in the area and interested in checking out some great racing head out to Mosport, you won't be sorry.

[Source: Volkswagen]

The popular Jetta shows its makeover in the Empire State, en route to the rest of America.

The Jetta SportWagen debuts in the U.S. at the New York International Auto Show this week, and the diesel version is coming to stateside dealerships in early 2008. The Jetta is VW's best-selling model, and will be available with one of three engines: a 2.5-liter, five cylinder producing 170 (available in August) a 2.0T, four cylinder with 200 hp (after that) and the 2.0L clean diesel engine in 2008. Of course, you've got your list of options, which are included in the Volkswagen of America press release after the jump. I know Jettas aren't perfect, but doesn't this seem to be one of the easiest ways for American buyers to re-introduce themselves to diesel engines? All right, perhaps not re-introducing because this engine is nothing like the diesels from 20+ years ago. More like an introductory clean slate, 2008.

[Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.]

When Martin Winterkorn took over for Wolfgang Bernhard very recently, he examined the next versions of the Rabbit and VW's other models hybrid plans and immediately put them on hold. An unnamed VW executive says, "the hybrid business case doesn't work out, no matter how you look at it." Toyota might have something to say about that thought...

The hybrid Touareg apparently is still on track to be the first VW hybrid, and is expected to be on sale in 2008. Winterkorn also is planning to delay the release of their next Rabbit, citing design changes. It is being reported that Winterkorn did not like the large air openings on the redesigned car.

[Source: Autoweek]

2007 Jetta 2.0. Click here for a high-resolution image gallery of VW clean technologies.

While the strict diesel emission requirements were tough for automakers to adjust to, today's news from the D.C. Auto Show proves that they've still got what it takes to live up to the clean air laws that the people ask for. We've heard about the 2007 Ram 2500/3500 pickup and the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD (and, of course, the non-diesel hydrogen Edge PHEV) and now comes Volkswagen with their new Jetta TDI, which they're billing as the cleanest diesel VW has ever sold in the U.S. The 50-state legal Jetta uses BlueTec urea injection to meet the low emissions standards, with the "engine management system in the Jetta (changing) operating modes periodically to treat the NOx that has been stored in the catalytic converter" along with a particulate filter in the exhaust system.

To prove it's been in the diesel business for a while, Volkswagen also announced today a search for the oldest running and highest-mileage VW diesels in America. It's likely the oldest diesel will be a Rabbit diesel (VW says it sold 12,393 in 1977). The highest-mileage VW diesel must have its original engine. If you think you've got one of these cars, check with VW starting in March (and continuing through at least August) for details on how to enter your car. The winners will get to drive a 2007 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI for six months.

Press releases on both stories are after the jump.

Related:

• Volkswagen betting each way on powertrain technologies

[Source: VW]

Used to be, if an American wanted a Volkswagen that wasn't available for sale in the United States, Mexico was the place to go. Who knows how many old Bugs made the trek north back in the day. Now, though, if it's the VW City Golf and City Jetta you want, you can head north. VW is releasing last year's Golf and Jetta as base models in the Canadian VW line-up. The Golf starts at $14,900 and the Jetta is $16,700. And those are Canadian dollars.

Biodiesel freaks who are thinking of rushing to Canada to get the diesel models that VW will not sell in the United States next year should stay put, though. Volkswagen's inability to meet emissions laws in Canada will prevent the diesel versions of the 2007 Golf and Jetta to be sold there just like in the U.S. Just sit tight until 2008 (or 2009. We'll see).

Related:

• Volkswagen discontinues three diesel models for 2007

[Source: Canadian Driver, hat tip to bojac]