Inside The Mind Of An Automotive Geek

You’ll be surprised if you happen to see one of the newest redesigned models from the Volkswagen range of cars. It is definitely a bold move for the company as they unveiled the new looks for 2008.

VW has made a number of changes and most of these are just minor ones such as trim level naming switches and color removal. The major changes were done underneath the body. Take for example the additional power for the 2.5-liter five cylinder engine which is being used by the Jetta and the Rabbit. Twenty horsepower were added and this produces 177 ft-lb of torque.

A new model for the Beetle is expected in 2009 with additional 20 horses beneath the hood. There was a new driving force, courtesy of a brand-new software and a new intake to improvise the extra breathing capacity. Here are the additional and changes done to some of the 2008 VW models:

RABBIT

• New 170-hp, 177 lb-ft 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine standard on two- & four-door
  
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) now standard
  
• New trim level naming: Rabbit S (two- and four-door)

• 15mm ride height reduction on both two- and four-door
  
• Sirius satellite radio now standard
  
• Reflex Silver is now special order only
  
• Climatronic deleted from all trims
  
• New trim level naming: GTI and GTI Autobahn

• New trim level naming: S and SE
  
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) now standard
  
• Fog lights deleted from all trims
  
• New sixteen-inch alloy wheel S
  
• New seventeen-inch alloy wheel on SE
  
• Temporary use spare tire
  
• Deleted Shadow Blue on sedan and convertible
  
• Deleted Platinum Gray on convertible
  
• Deleted reflex silver on convertible
  
• Laser blue no longer available with gray interior
  
• Black not available with crème top
  
• Deleted front floor mats
  
• Deleted Leather seating surfaces from all trims
  
• Cold weather package available on S as stand alone option

• Reflex Silver is now special order only
  
• Climatronic deleted from all trims
  
• New trim level naming: GLI and GLI Autobahn

• New 170-hp, 177 lb-ft 2.5L five-cylinder engine standard
  
• Delete 2.0T engine (only available on GLI)
  
• Automatic only available with SEL
  
• Temporary use spare tire
  
• Laser Blue replaces Shadow Blue
  
• Delete Wheat Beige
  
• Front and rear lower valance in black textured color on S and SE
  
• Body color front and rear valance on SEL
  
• 2.5 badge included on S
  
• Sixteen-inch steel wheels with full covers standard on S
  
• Delete Climatronic from all trims
  
• Deleted leather seating surfaces from all trims
  
• Power recline standard on all trim levels
  
• Seventeen-inch wheel standard on SEL
  
• Deleted Homelink from all trims
  
• Cold weather package now optional on S
  
• Sixteen-inch alloy wheel now optional on S
  
• Sunroof now optional on S