Early next year, the
2011 VW Jetta could be named the North American Car of the Year. A judging panel made up of 50 of the auto industry’s leading journalists in Canada and the United States nominated the Jetta for the annual award, and it is now one of 14 vehicles vying for the title. Volkswagen has set its sights on becoming the world’s number-one automaker by 2018, and the award nomination, amid a strong field of competitors, shows that the German automaker is taking the right steps to meet its goals.
The North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards are now in their 18th year, and the award ceremony will take place at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Before that, the redesigned 2011 Jetta will have to make it through a last round of cuts in December, which will trim the field down to three finalists. This year’s list of contenders includes the Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Volt, Buick Regal and Ford Fiesta.
Frank Carnucci, general manager of Southern
New Hampshire Volkswagen dealer Quirk VW, believes the new Jetta has a good shot to win despite the stiff competition.
“The nomination itself is an honor, but I like the Jetta’s chances this year,” said Carnucci. “This is a model that was redesigned with American drivers in mind. When the time comes for the judges to choose the recipient of this award, hype and popularity are not going to be the focus. The true winner will be the best car for North American drivers, and I believe that car is the 2011 Jetta.”
Volkswagen increased the size of the new Jetta to meet the demands of American consumers, expanding rear-seat legroom to more than three feet. Designers also adjusted the Jetta’s styling, giving it the look of a sport sedan and freeing it from comparisons to the Volkswagen Golf.
The Jetta ships standard with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine under the hood. Drivers looking for more punch can go for the SE model, which features a 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder engine that chews the road with 170 horsepower but eats light at the gas pump with fuel economy of 33 mpg highway. Advanced safety options like electronic stability control and Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System are standard on the base S model, which offers considerable value in its class with a sticker price below $16,000.
“Customers here in tax-free New Hampshire want the value to match the price, and with the 2011 Jetta, they’ll get more,” said Carnucci. “It delivers exceptional quality for the cost, and the Jetta’s sales so far show that people are impressed with VW’s thoughtful consideration of their wants and needs.”
During the Jetta’s October debut on
VW dealer lots, the all-new model sold 5,464 units and helped Volkswagen post a 17.9% sales increase over October of last year. This was the best month of sales for Jetta in the United States since 2005, apart from August of last year, when the government’s Cash for Clunkers program provided an unusual boost to sales of fuel-efficient cars.
About Quirk Volkswagen NH:Quirk Volkswagen of Manchester, NH is the newest addition to the Quirk family of auto dealers, and it is already emerging as the destination for VW lovers throughout southern New Hampshire. They have a fantastic selection of new and used Volkswagens ranging from the Golf to the Routan, and the friendly, experienced sales and service staff to back them up. You can browse Quirk Volkswagen's inventory online at www.quirkvwnh.com, like them on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/QuirkCars, call them at (603) 626-7000 or visit their dealership at 1100 S. Willow Street in Manchester, New Hampshire.
