For everyone who has been waiting anxiously for the new fifty state legal Volkswagen Jetta TDI to arrive at U.S. dealers, it appears things are inching a little closer. A reader the other day spotted a transporter filled with Jettas festooned with TDI signage headed northbound on a North Carolina freeway. Andrew called a local VW dealer who confirmed that these were actually among the first batch of TDIs that will be available for test drives at dealers around North America for the next couple of months before they go on sale later this summer. We first reported on VW's plans back in February at the Chicago Auto Show. From the initial batch of 1,000 cars, each dealer will get one car initially and more will arrive through the course of the summer. Volkswagen expects about half of the 15,000 Sportwagens for 2009 to be TDI powered with about 30-40 percent of the sedans. Keep your eyes open for the new Jetta TDI and if you can snap some photos put them up on Flickr or some other site and send us a link. In the meantime check out the driving impressions of the gas-powered Jetta SportWagen.

[Source: reader Andrew]

This past weekend, Volkswagen held their driver selection event for the inaugural Jetta TDI cup series out at Firebird raceway in Phoenix, AZ. Volkswagen evaluated 54 potential participants based on their driving skills, but other factors were taken into account as well. Since the drivers are also expected to help promote Volkswagen and their diesel technology, they had to demonstrate their communication skills and ability to work with the media. In the end thirty drivers aged 16-26 were chosen to run over the six racing weekends starting later this month at Virginia International Raceway. They will have to pay up $35,000 for the season and they can have up to two sponsors for their car. The cars will all be prepared by Volkswagen with 170hp 2.0L TDI engines and six speed DSG transmissions as well as all the necessary safety equipment. The driver that wins the series championship after the Petite Le Mans race weekend in October at Road Atlanta walks away with $100,000. If the champ hooks up a professional drive for 2009 within six months of the end of the season, VW will kick in an extra $150,000.

[Source: Volkswagen]

The 2008 Jetta TDi exhaust system

Popular Mechanics got a chance to get an early look at a prototype for the new 2008 VW Jetta TDi with clean diesel exhaust. Volkswagen PR manager Keith Price gives the full rundown on how the system works. The new diesel Jetta will be available at US dealers next March and will be fifty-state legal without having to use a urea injection system. You can check out the video after the jump.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]