Track Tested: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition

Edmunds tests hundreds of vehicles a year. Cars, trucks, SUVs, we run them all, and the numbers always tell a story. With that in mind we present "Track Tested," a quick rundown of all the data we collect at the track, along with comments direct from the test-drivers. Enjoy.

Volkswagen, celebrating the Jetta TDI CUP racing program, released a TDI Cup street car at the 2008 SEMA Show. The concept had red brakes, bitchin' 10-spoke wheels, antiroll bars sport suspension and a racy body kit.

And now the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition is here and it's got red brakes, a racy body kit, 10-spoke wheels and a sport suspension. The TDI Cup Edition has 140-horsepower from a 2.0-liter diesel motor, a six-speed manual transmission and a whopping 236 lb-feet of torque.

Vehicle: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition

Odometer: 1,606
Date: 07-20-2010
Driver: Chris Walton
Base price: $24,990
Options on car: Salsa Red Exterior; Interlagos Cloth interior; Jetta TDI Cup Edition Body kit ($2,350-- includes front bumper, side sill extensions and rear valence.); Power sunroof ($1,000); Jetta wing spoiler ($499); Jetta mat kit ($225 -- includes 4 rubber mats and trunk liner); Media device for iPod Integration ($199); Six speed manual transmission.
Price as tested: $30,013 (inc 750 destination charge)

Specifications:
Drive Type: Front-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed manual
Engine Type: Inline-4
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 1,968cc (120 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 5,100
Horsepower (hp @ rpm):  140 @ 4,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 236 @ 1,750
Brake Type (front): Ventilated disc
Brake Type (rear): Disc
Steering System: Electric speed-proportional power steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent, MacPherson strut
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, multilink
Tire Size (front): 225/40R18 92H
Tire Size (rear): P225/40R18 92H
Tire Brand: Pirelli
Tire Model: P Zero Nero
Tire Type: All-season
Wheel Material (front/rear): Alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,282

Test Results:
0-30 (sec): 3.4
0-45 (sec): 5.8
0-60 (sec): 9.7
0-75 (sec): 14.5
1/4-Mile (sec. @ mph): 17.0 @ 79.5
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec.): 9.4
30-0 (ft): 33
60-0 (ft): 129
Braking Rating: Average
Slalom (mph): 61.7
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.78
Handling Rating: Average
Db @ Idle: 47.5
Db @ Full Throttle: 76.3
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 68.5

Acceleration Comments: Pretty quick to 30 mph, but power falls off pretty quickly, too. A little bit of wiggle / tug from the steering wheel at WOT, but nothing I'd call torque steer. Smooth, long-throw shifter we've grown to expect from VW.

Braking Comments: Brakes are average for this class of car, and don't seem upgraded one bit for this "cup" designation. Fade resistance is average, too. Straight stops, all.

Handling Comments: Skid pad: Non-defeat ESC first breathes throttle, then uses brakes. light steering loads only slightly and doesn't offer much feel. Slalom: again, not sure where the "cup" part comes in, but this Jetta feels as rubbery and flaccid as any other. Non-defeat ESC prefers smooth inputs, but I'm not convinced there would be much to gain by shutting it off. Lots of wind-up and roll.