2014-vw-jetta-ckd-0008

It's confirmed – the locally-assembled Volkswagen Jetta will be introduced less than a month from now. This announcement was made by Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) managing director Christoph Aringer earlier today.

This news has been a long time coming – DRB-Hicom has already confirmed that the CKD Jetta would be arriving sometime this year. The Jetta will join the Passat and Polo sedan and hatchback in VGM's locally-assembled lineup.

To recap, the current fully-imported Jetta features a turbocharged 1.4 litre TSI engine producing 160 PS at 5,800 rpm and 240 Nm from 1,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. This engine is mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. The CBU Jetta retails at RM151,888.

Volkswagen_Jetta_1.4_TSI_ 003

The locally-assembled version is likely to follow the Passat and keep the European specification of the current car – which also includes a soft-touch dashboard and multi-link independent rear suspension – instead of the American version featuring a 170 PS 2.5 litre MPI five-cylinder mill, a six-speed automatic transmission, hard plastics inside and a torsion rear beam.

This means the price decrease will be relatively modest – the Passat, for example, became RM14k cheaper through the switch to local assembly, compared to the Polo hatchback's nearly RM30k drop.

Spyshots of the CKD Volkswagen Jetta at JPJ Putrajaya have already appeared, showing a car that is virtually identical to the current model externally. Inside, the head unit has been upgraded to the newer RCD 320 unit from the locally-assembled Polos, and the triple-knob air-con controls from the Mk7 Golf replaces the dual-knob ones on the current car.

CKD Volkswagen Jetta spyshots

Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI (CBU)