|
|
 (EMAILWIRE.COM, January 13, 2012 ) Massachusetts, USA -- While 2011 was a good year for the auto industry in general, with U.S. sales up 10 percent, VolkswagenÂ’s recent push to build more American-friendly cars paid off particularly well. By moving 324,402 total units at VW dealerships last year, Volkswagen posted a 26.3-percent sales increase for its best year since 2002, closing 2011 with its best December since 1972.
The German automakerÂ’s standout seller in 2011 was the Volkswagen Jetta, whose sedan and SportWagen models moved a total of 177,360 units for an increase of 43.9 percent compared with 2010. The sedan version of the Jetta alone sold 12,422 units in December, an 18-percent sales increase compared to the same month last year. Redesigned for the 2011 model year, the JettaÂ’s larger interior and exterior has taken hold with American buyers.
“Volkswagen’s impressive sales leap comes largely as a result of giving drivers what they really want in a car, and that’s clear when you look at the Jetta,” said Ray Hovsepian, general manager of Bedford, Massachusetts VW dealer Minuteman VW. “The Jetta is a small car, so it gets great gas mileage, but it’s deceptively large on the inside. Best-in-class trunk space means families don’t have to worry about picking and choosing what to carry with them on vacation trips.”
Aside from its 15.5 cubic-feet of cargo space, the 2012 Jetta also features an available 2.5-liter 170-horsepower engine that delivers 177 pound-feet of torque. For those who want to squeeze more performance out of their everyday ride, Volkswagen also offers a 2.0-liter TSI engine that can output 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque in GLI models. Despite their differences in power output, both engines manage to still deliver 33 mpg on the highway.
If 33 mpg isnÂ’t enough to satisfy certain buyers at the gas tank, the Jetta is also available as a TDI Clean Diesel model. The diesel-drivetrain Jetta can deliver up to 42 mpg on the highway while still putting a class-leading 236 pound-feet of torque to good use.
Volkswagen saw sales of their TDI Clean Diesel vehicles increase roughly 24 percent in 2011, despite the past tendency of American buyers to favor gas and gas-electric drivetrains. TDI vehicles accounted for 21.6 percent of all Volkswagen vehicles sold in the United States last year, and 18.4 percent of the companyÂ’s December sales were TDI Clean Diesels.
As sales of VolkswagenÂ’s diesel vehicles increase, so does their exposure. All five Volkswagen TDI Clean Diesel vehicles were recently nominated for The Diesel Driver magazineÂ’s 2012 Diesel Car of the Year award. Only 13 vehicles earned nods this year, and Volkswagen tied Mercedes-Benz for the most 2012 nominees. The winner, as well as two runners up, will be announced at the 2012 New York International Auto Show in April. Voting will be open to the public through March 1, 2012 at www.thedieseldriver.com/2011/11/vote-for-the-2012-diesel-car-of-the-year/.
“Contests like those run by The Diesel Driver are not only fun, but they can be used as a loose measuring tool for public opinion,” added Hovsepian. “Looking at sales numbers tells us that the public is warming up more and more to the idea of clean and efficient diesel drivetrains, and we expect that the popularity of the Volkswagen TDI lineup will only increase from here.”
About Minuteman Volkswagen:
Minuteman Volkswagen, located in Bedford, Massachusetts, is renowned throughout the region for its friendly and knowledgeable sales staff, skilled VW service department and impressive selection of new and used Volkswagens. If youÂ’re in the market for a quality new or pre-owned Volkswagen at the right price, Minuteman is where you want to be. For more information, you can visit their Greater Boston Volkswagen dealership on the web at www.minutemanvw.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MinutemanVW, call them at 781.275.8000 or stop by their showroom at 39 North Rd. in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Press Release Courtesy of Online PR Media: http://bit.ly/zPRmVb
Cambridge PR Group
Michael Wong
617-500-2302
mwongPR@yahoo.com 
Source: EmailWire.com
|
