18 May 05 12:20
Volkswagen Jetta (US version)
Volkswagen's upcoming next-generation Golf-based saloon will revert to its original name, Jetta, rather than continue under the Bora badge. This move is to bring the European-market model in line with the US Volkswagen range, where the familiar Jetta name was retained throughout the 1990s. The 'Bora' nameplate will be dropped completely, except in certain South and Central American markets, where versions of the old 1980s Jetta are still produced.
The new European-market Jetta will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with UK sales starting towards the end of the year. It will be very similar to the US-market Jetta, though we won't be offered the V5 engine: from launch, just the 2.0 FSI petrol and 2.0 TDI and 1.9 TDI diesels will be offered, as in the Golf, though the Golf GTi's 200bhp 2.0T FSI and 3.2 V6 models are to follow next year. The new Jetta is considerably larger than the outgoing Bora, and fits better in the Volkswagen range now that the Passat has also grown.
Although the Jetta/Bora has never been anywhere near as big a seller as the hatchbacked Golf in the UK, this time around Volkswagen has greater expectations for it; the company hopes it will find a small niche at the entry-end of the compact executive market, competing alongside models such as the Volvo S40.
Also new this autumn will be 2.0T FSI (200bhp) and V6 4MOTION four-wheel-drive versions of the Passat, as well as models with the new super-clean piezo-injection, particulate-filtered 2.0 TDI diesel engine (170bhp). That engine is also likely to go into the Golf range in the not-too-distant future. Coming soon as well will be the Polo GTI, going on sale next year with the 1.8T petrol engine (150bhp). There are no plans for a diesel Polo GTI though there will be a less hot Volkswagen answer to the Skoda Fabia VRS and Seat Ibiza Cupra TDI; this will be badged either 'GT' or 'Sport', and have the 1.9 TDI engine tuned for 130bhp, as in the Fabia.
