350 hp Volkswagen Jetta GLI Performance Concept hits SEMA with a 6-speed manual

The Jetta GLI Performance made its debut at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, as a modified version of the sedan that pays homage to Jetta’s touring car history. It is complete with many visual and hardware upgrades from the standard Jetta GLI, making it a much more powerful machine.

The Jetta GLI Performance Concept is based on the 2022 Jetta GLI Autobahn. It has wider front and rear fenders, making it look more muscular. The side skirts are also bigger, and there are bigger air intakes in the front bumper.The body of the car is matte black with a custom hexagonal-themed vinyl wrap. The design changes are completed with a set of 20-inch Rotiform monoblock wheels with custom covers.

The engine under the hood is more interesting. The stock 2.0-liter engine gets a new performance package from RacingLine. This includes a carbon fiber cold-air intake, new intercooler, oil management kit with a new oil cooler, and other hardware upgrades. The result is an increased output of 350 horsepower (261 kilowatts) and 372 pound-feet (504 Newton-meters) of torque, compared to the factory's 228 hp (170 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque.

The vehicle's six-speed manual gearbox, mated to an upgraded performance clutch package, provides power to the front wheels. We don't have the acceleration figures yet, but we expect the 0-62 miles per hour (0-100 kilometers per hour) time to be about five seconds.

The Jetta GLI concept's stopping power comes from a six-piston forged caliper brake kit with carbon-ceramic discs. A coilover suspension kit with lowered springs and adjustable top mounts provides "a track-worthy suspension that is just as at home on the street," according to Volkswagen.

Although Volkswagen likely won't produce this car on a large scale, the concept is still intriguing. It would be great to see a more performance-oriented Jetta in the future, even if it's not as extreme as this one.

Source: Volkswagen