For as long as it’s been around, the Jetta->ke306 has always been the notchback sibling to the Golf,->ke164 but that could change when the next-generation Jetta is introduced in 2017. Volkswagen->ke94 could be looking to distance the Jetta from the Golf by enlarging it slightly and giving it the four-door coupe->ke141 treatment to meet market demands in the U.S. and China.->ke2090

According to a new report from German site Auto Bild, next Jetta will be roughly the same size as a Skoda Octavia->ke1949 — which is more-or-less the same size as a Honda Accord->ke237 or Toyota Camry->ke246 — but will offer a more interior refinement.

Volkswagen believes there’s room in its lineup for a larger Jetta now that the 2015 Volkswagen Passat has grown as well, and the coupe-like profile will add a bit of swagger to the currently mundane sedan. Even though it will likely share many of the Golf’s hard points, look for the next Jetta to further differentiate itself from the Golf with different styling features. A larger, four-door Jetta coupe would also likely spell the end for Volkswagen’s current four-door coupe, the 2015 Volkswagen CC.

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The next Jetta will be built using Volkswagen MQB architecture, and final assembly is likely to remain at the company’s factory in Puebla, Mexico. Power will continue to come from a range of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines. Expect an ultra-frugal hybrid,->ke147 a sportier, more-powerful GLI and possibly an all-electric->ke1030 e-Jetta to be added later.

Why it matters

Volkswagen is desperate to take the sales fight to Honda->ke34 and Toyota->ke88 in the United States and in China, where mid-size sedans->ke142 are also very popular. If Auto Bild’s report is accurate, it probably means Volkswagen wants to take a chunk out of Accord and Camry sales — arguably the most competitive segment in the world — and is leaving behind the compact sedan segment.

2015 Volkswagen Jetta

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