What is it with Volkswagen customizers and roof racks? Spot a modified late-model VW on the street, and often no matter how impractical the changes are, it’ll still sport a rather un-stylish roof rack. Because even if your car is too low to get over speed bumps, there’s no reason to sacrifice practicality, right?
Debuting at the 2015 SEMA show in Las Vegas, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Momo Edition was built by the Italian racing-equipment company to show what a possible collaboration between it and VW could produce. It’s got all of the custom touches one normally sees on a Jetta, including the roof rack.
Momo didn’t take as aggressive an approach as other companies do with their SEMA concepts, sticking to bolt-on parts for what it calls an “OEM-plus” look. But there are still some notable changes that give the Jetta GLI more attitude and show off Momo’s wares.
The company is well known for its wheels, so naturally the Jetta got a set of 19-inch “Revenge”-style rims that preview a design Momo will put on sale next year. There’s also an upgraded suspension system from H&R, and a beefier brake setup that mixes calipers and rotors from Brembo at the front, with hardware from the Volkswagen Golf R at the back.
On the inside, the Jetta gets a Momo GT50 Anniversary steering wheel, a special design made to commemorate Momo’s 50th anniversary. There’s also yellow trim throughout the mostlystock interior. Momo also added a vehicle-information display that fits into the driver’s side air vent. It can show everything from 0-to-60 mph times and speed to turbo boost pressure and throttle position.
The Jetta GLI powertrain remains mostly stock, with the exception of a stainless steel cat-back exhaust system. That doesn’t change the output of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which still produces 210 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The GLI is essentially VW’s sedan counterpart to the GTI hatchback, although it sits in the GTI’s shadow to some extent.
The Momo Edition 2016 Volkswagen Jetta GLI won’t go into production, but it would probably please fans if VW got onboard.
