Recently, the Jetta brand released a teaser image of its all-new sedan, the Jetta VA7. This new car is seen as a 'Youth Edition' of the Volkswagen Sagitar, and it is expected to continue the brand's traditional pricing advantage, likely being priced lower than the similarly positioned Volkswagen Sagitar. The pre-sale of the Jetta VA7 is expected to start on November 10, with a starting price potentially below 100,000 yuan.

Judging from the teaser image, the rear design of the Jetta VA7 maintains a high degree of consistency with the Volkswagen Sagitar, but with adjustments to the details that give it a more distinct Jetta brand identity. For example, the ducktail spoiler at the rear adds a touch of dynamism, while the taillights from the older Sagitar model are retained. The logo at the rear is replaced with a JETTA lettering badge, and the Jetta VA7 emblem is located at the lower right corner of the rear.

The actual vehicle images further emphasize the front design of the Jetta VA7, featuring a Jetta-style chrome-plated mesh grille that integrates seamlessly with the headlights, creating a stylish and imposing visual effect. The dynamic chrome trim around the front bumper further enhances the sporty feel of the vehicle.

Image from FAW-Volkswagen Jetta Official

In terms of powertrain configuration, the Jetta VA7 is expected to offer a choice of 1.5T and 1.2T engines with different displacements, similar to the Volkswagen Sagitar. The 1.2T engine delivers a maximum output of 116 horsepower and a peak torque of 175 Nm, while the 1.5T engine delivers a maximum output of 160 horsepower and a peak torque of 250 Nm. The transmission system may include a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Judging from Jetta's current product lineup, there are the Jetta VS5, Jetta VS7, and Jetta VA3, which are compact SUVs, mid-size SUVs, and compact sedans, respectively. The upcoming VA7 will be positioned as a compact sedan.

From a product layout perspective, Electric Car News has identified two issues.

First, in today's market environment, the Jetta brand lacks new energy vehicle offerings. This is a significant drawback. While it is understandable to directly adopt Volkswagen's existing products, it would be beneficial to offer more than just gasoline-powered vehicles. New energy vehicle models should also be introduced, even if only a few. Compared to domestic new energy vehicle brands, and even "Toyota, Honda, and Nissan," Jetta lags behind in this regard. It is essential to achieve "synchronization of gasoline and electric vehicles." Nowadays, new energy vehicles have become the choice of many consumers, and failing to introduce such products in a timely manner may easily lead to market elimination.

Secondly, all current Jetta products are essentially "Volkswagen clones," raising questions about the brand's ability to develop its own vehicles and whether it is merely capable of producing clones. Jetta is gradually giving Electric Car News the impression of a Skoda, and everyone knows how Skoda is faring. Politely put, it is an affordable and practical car for the national economy; crudely put, it is a cheap mode of transportation.

It is important to note that as people's living standards improve, car purchases are increasingly within the 200,000 to 300,000 yuan range. While Jetta maintains its high cost-effectiveness, its materials and configurations should ideally be further upgraded.

Furthermore, FAW-Volkswagen Jetta is in talks with Leapmotor for cooperation, planning to buy out Leapmotor's platform technology to develop an affordable electric vehicle product line. If this cooperation is successful, Jetta will focus on the affordable electric vehicle market while learning from Leapmotor's cost control capabilities. The Jetta brand also plans to launch multiple new energy vehicle models in the future.

The Jetta brand has already announced its plans in the new energy sector, intending to launch three hybrid vehicles (VA5, VS6, and VS8) and two new energy models between 2023 and 2025, forming a dual-drive product matrix of gasoline and new energy vehicles. However, more than half of 2024 has passed, and there has been no news of progress. Or is Jetta planning to bring us an even bigger surprise?

Source: Lei Technology