;Now This is a Volkswagen  by Christian Wardlaw ;''

What good is a Volkswagen if it's not fun to drive? Americans looking for luxury can buy any number of overpriced European models wearing premium badges. People who buy Volkswagens don't care as much about impressing the neighbors as they do having a good time.

Thus, it should surprise no one that Volkswagen is trotting out a hotter version of its completely redesigned bread-and-butter sedan for 2006. The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI receives minor styling tweaks, a more powerful motor, a slick optional transmission, and other sport-tuned goodies.

Under the hood is the same turbocharged, 2.0-liter, direct-injection engine from the upcoming 2006 VW GTI and 2006 Audi A3. In the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, this engine is rated to make 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the A3 and GTI, the Jetta GLI's torque curve is broad and relatively flat, giving it plenty of punch just about everywhere in the rev range.

Standard equipment includes a six-speed manual transmission, but the 2006 VW Jetta GLI will be offered with a sequential manual dubbed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). DSG provides manual shift control via paddles mounted to the steering wheel, or fully automatic mode if the driver desires. We've driven the Audi TT equipped with DSG, and it's gotta be one of the best sequential manuals in the business.

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