2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Album created by Cory Wolfe · Updated February 12, 201115 yr

Photos from the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI debut at the Chicago Auto Show, shot by Cory Wolfe. The GLI adds a 200-horsepower 2.0T TSI turbocharged four-cylinder, sport-tuned suspension, GLI-specific honeycomb grille, red brake calipers, and a black leather interior with red contrast stitching to the Jetta platform. Read the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review.

2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI front three-quarter view at auto show in Tornado Red

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI side view at Chicago Auto Show in Tornado Red

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI rear three-quarter view at auto show in Tornado Red

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI sport seat bolster with red stitching close-up

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI interior with sport steering wheel and manual gearshift

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI front view being driven onto auto show stage

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI side profile at auto show in Tornado Red

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI rear three-quarter view with GLI placard at auto show

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI straight rear view showing dual exhaust at auto show

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI rear three-quarter view at auto show floor in Tornado Red

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI side profile at VW concert display in Tornado Red

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI front three-quarter view at VW press event in Tornado Red

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI badge on honeycomb grille close-up

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI straight front view at Chicago Auto Show with Das Auto backdrop

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI headlight and GLI grille badge close-up

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI front grille and VW badge close-up

By Cory Wolfe
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI front three-quarter view on blue-lit auto show stage

By Cory Wolfe

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Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Yep. And I think they got the energy density a little higher than Tesla's. Not a huge jump, but enough to matter and bring the vehicles over the 300 mile range mark will still keeping battery size in check.
- Friday at 05:10 PM3 days
- 30,733 replies
- - 2
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

ccap41 replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

I believe Ford's new platform and mid-size/compact truck are supposed to be LFP chemistry. It's good to know their degradation curve are even better for the consumer.
- Friday at 05:08 PM3 days
- 30,733 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

The concern is also largely going to disappear in the emerging generation of batteries. LFP chemistry (available in some Teslas and supposed to be coming in Hyundai/Kia/Genesis soon) have degredation curves that far exceed a vehicle lifetime. We're talking over a million miles before the batteries reach 80% of design capacity. The downside of LFP is they don't have the energy density that standard EV batteries (NMC) have, meaning you either have to be comfortable with less range or an even bigger battery pack. GM has LMR batteries on the way also. These are a medium point between standard EV batteries an LFP. They have 30% plus more energy density than LFPs. There hasn't been extensive degredation testing of this chemistry yet, but it is expected to be well above NMC and closer to LFP. Even if its 500k miles plus instead of 1 millon, it is functionally the same as LFP since so few cars reach that mileage anyway. What's interesting is that LMR and LFP could make the pursuit of super-capacitors obsolete. The only advantage super capacitors would have is rapid charging and possibly weight, but at the speeds we have today with EV charging, it might not be worth the cost for a technology that multiple automakers are struggling to bring to market.
- Friday at 04:57 PM3 days
- 30,733 replies
- - 1
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

ccap41 replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

I'm not trying to dispute that, at all. I know this. I should have used different numbers so you wouldn't have jumped to the conclusion that I'm expecting a 50% degradation. That's mostly what I expected, but didn't know the science behind batteries and/or charging. Thank you!
- Friday at 04:15 PM3 days
- 30,733 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Yeah, it was in the news a lot in the past year because a certain segment was saying it was proof that EVs weren't the way forward. GM spent a billion or so rebuilding that plant.
- Friday at 03:58 PM3 days
- 30,733 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

G. David Felt replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Cool had not heard that they had rebuilt the plant. Agree that until the engines are in the wild, it will be interesting to see how they do. My own experience with the 5.7L V8 that was in my 1994 GMC Suburban was awesome, solid engine even after I bored it out into a 402 mean machine. Would love to have that Suburban with an AWD EV powertrain.
- Friday at 03:56 PM3 days
- 30,733 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

They rebuilt the towanda plant almost from the ground up for these engines. I’ll reserve judgement for now.
- Friday at 12:33 AM4 days
- 30,733 replies
- - 1
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

G. David Felt replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

There have been plenty of studies done and I will post them here if your interested in the pure science. End result is that depending on the EV manufacturer, some loose range faster than others. Yet for the most part, EV battery packs will last far longer than the fear of the ICE folks are trying to say you will pay for. Pure science EV Battery Degradation Assessment Under Standard Drive Cycles Using Simulated EIS Lithium-ion battery degradation: Comprehensive cycle ageing data and analysis for commercial 21700 cells - ScienceDirect Early prediction of lithium-ion battery degradation with a generative pre-trained transformer | Nature Communications Battery Lifespan | Transportation and Mobility Research | NLR Reports based on outside the US studies: The EV Brand With The Slowest Battery Degradation Isn’t Tesla New study of 1,300 EVs busts battery degradation myths, Kia and Tesla top the list | Electrek Kia beats Tesla in battery capacity retention over time as used electric vehicles exhibit remarkable longevity - Notebookcheck News https://internet-satelitarny.eu/2025/10/31/new-mega%E2%80%91study-of-1300-used-evs-just-blew-up-the-battery%E2%80%91degradation-myth-heres-who-tops-the-list-hint-not-tesla/ Yes, they are new engines with old displacements and marketing that I find funny as I think due to all the V8 issues GM has had especially in the States where they say to use 0w-20 and yet for the same engines outside the country they say to use 5w-30 GM seems to be spinning to take hold of their old reliability that folks remember from the 80's and 90's here. Just my own take on how I am seeing things as GM tries to get in front of their engine issues.
- Thursday at 10:07 PM4 days
- 30,733 replies
- - 1
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

What are you talking about? They’re new. Just because they use the same displacement as an engine from 1996 or the 1960s doesn’t make them old
- Thursday at 09:59 PM4 days
- 30,733 replies
- - 3
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

You’re now only putting in 50kw (plus or minus some from charging losses)
- Thursday at 08:06 PM4 days
- 30,733 replies
- - 2

2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

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