Monday, December 18, 2006

Volkswagen to launch first hybrid Jetta in 2009

The rise in gasoline prices has prompted car manufacturers to start producing fuel-sipping models. However, in this fight against rising fuel cost, car companies went their separate ways and decided to divide themselves into two separate camps: gas-electric hybrids and alternative fuel.

While Japan decided to concentrate on producing and perfecting (almost) hybrid technology, Europe decided to go with alternative fuel, developing economic diesel engines that make cars go longer for less. Volkswagen itself has concentrated on producing fuel efficient engines, FSI, TSI, and TDI, for example.

But that will all change by the end of the decade. Volkswagen will be crossing camps and will finally be adopting gas-electric hybrids by 2009. Volkswagen commented in a UK publication that they are poised to launch their first Jetta hybrid in 2009. It comes as no surprise. Volkswagen's TDI already leave hybrids in the dust in terms of mileage and cost. The possibility of a TDI hybrid should sufficiently appease the tree lovers out there.