Volkswagen has released design sketches of the 2019 Jetta ahead of the next-generation vehicle's debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2018.

Based on the teaser images, the seventh-generation compact sedan will have a clean, sharp and elegant exterior design. There is a prominent crease under the window sills that extend up to the taillights. Then, at the rear, the trunk lid is more seamless as it extends beyond the lower part. The cabin, meanwhile, adopts a driver-focused design.

In terms of dimensions, the 2019 Jetta is around two inches long and almost an inch wider than its predecessor. Though these are only slight increases, they give the new car the appearance of being much larger and spacious.

According to the German automaker, the redesigned sedan will have improved driving dynamics, a fuel-efficient gasoline engine, and more technology. It will be powered by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers 150 horsepower. The powertrain can be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The upcoming vehicle will use Volkswagen's global MQB platform. Using a flexible platform that is also seen in another vehicle like the Golf, Atlas, Polo, and Tiguan will allow Volkswagen to introduce premium features to the entry-level sedan.

"With the platform [strategy], you are producing so many cars, you can afford to offer really state-of-the-art driving assistance, luxury driving assistance, to the customer," said Matthias Erb, chief engineering officer and head of product strategy at Volkswagen North America.

As such, the 2019 Jetta will come standard with LED headlights and taillights, an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and post-collision braking. Safety features like blind spot monitoring, rear parking assist, and adaptive cruise control will be optional for customers.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta will arrive at dealers in mid-2018. Pricing has yet to be announced.