Volkswagen has revived the Jetta, Europe's most successful car in the USA. Its technical genes are shared with the best-selling German car of all time, the Golf. Its design is entirely new. More than 6.5 million Jetta vehicles have been sold throughout the world to date. Following its market launch in North America, the most recent generation is due to be launched in Germany on 3rd June. All other European countries, plus Asia, Africa and Australia will follow successively. With the new model, Volkswagen is introducing a uniform, world-wide name for its compact saloon; in Germany and throughout Europe, the Bora will therefore become the Jetta once again. Its features include its sporty design, lots of room for journeys, a very spacious luggage compartment, superior vehicle dynamics and its outstanding finish.

Design – new face, new dynamics

The new Jetta's most dominant design feature is the front end with its chrome radiator grille. With its new face, the fifth generation of this model reflects its claim of being considerably more independent, sporty and refined. In stylistic terms, the V-shaped radiator grille consciously reveals its proximity to the new Passat and the Golf GTI, the brand's first two series models with the new "VW face". The result is that the front end is contoured more sharply and is therefore more dynamic and elegant than ever before.

The rear end is also striking: its style also reflects the current VW design line and reveals the very fast-acting LED lights which have already become almost a typical Volkswagen feature.

Exterior dimensions – new size, new class

The switch from the Bora to the Jetta not only involves a major design leap, but also an increase in interior and exterior dimensions. The new Jetta is 4.55 metres long (+ 17,8 cm), 1.78 metres wide (+ 4,6 cm) and 1.46 metres high (+ 1,3 cm). Along with the vehicle's length, its wheelbase has been extended to 2.58 metres (+ 6.5 cm).

Interior dimensions – more space in the rear, 527-litre luggage compartment

The exterior dimensions have been increased almost entirely to the advantage of the interior and therefore the maximum of five passengers in the Jetta. In the rear, for example, the effectively useable leg room has been increased by 5 centimetres and head room by 2.4 centimetres. The Jetta's traditionally large luggage compartment has reached enormous proportions: it now offers 527 litres of luggage space, 72 litres more than its predecessor. The rear bench seat backrest can be folded 1/3 to 2/3 as standard to form a continuous and almost flat cargo area extension.

The new Volkswagen Jetta

Basic price / basic equipment – more equipment, less money

The new Jetta will be available with seven engines (four petrol engines, three turbodiesel engines, with outputs ranging from 75 kW to 147 kW) and in three equipment lines (Trendline, Comfortline and Sportline).

The saloon's price/performance ratio is one of the best the segment has to offer. With standard features such as a semi-automatic air conditioning system (Climatic), ESP, six airbags, active front headrests, electromechanical power steering, electric window lifters (4-fold), central locking with radio remote control, electrically adjustable and heated outside rear-view mirrors, dash panels, door trims and centre console manufactured from high-quality plastics painted with soft-effect paint, even in lower areas, and 205 dimension tyres (16"), the new Jetta fitted with the basic engine (1.6 75kW) and equipment (Trendline) will cost euro 18,950 in Germany.

Despite significant, further, technical developments, the vehicle's price has therefore been reduced by euro 350 versus a comparably equipped predecessor vehicle with similar output. Traditionally, the Jetta additionally offers more individual and extensive, basic equipment than a comparable Golf.

Engines – seven engines, six direct injection engines

Besides the basic engine, the Jetta will exclusively be fitted with direct injection engines (FSI and TDI). The petrol engines offer outputs of 85 kW (1.6 FSI) and 110 kW (2.0 FSI). A 147 kW 2.0 turbocharged FSI engine, which is currently causing a stir in the Golf GTI, will follow as the top engine. These three FSI engines are rounded off by three TDIs with outputs of 77 kW, 103 kW and 125 kW (the latter will be launched at a later date).

The TDIs and the turbocharged FSI will be optionally available with the highly-efficient and sporty double-shift gearbox DSG (automatic, pulling power not interrupted during shifting, no negative influence on consumption and performance). An optional six-speed automatic gearbox will also be available for the 75 kW and 110 kW petrol engines. As of (northern) autumn 2005, it will additionally be possible to order the new Jetta with a diesel particulate filter.

International markets

Ranked in order of volume, the Jetta's most important markets outside of Germany and the USA are Great Britain, Turkey, Austria, Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Sweden, Poland, Japan, Ireland, Hungary and Finland.

Production

The new Jetta will be built in VW's Mexican plant in Puebla, employing state-of-the-art production methods: for example, the body will be manufactured using extensive laser welding technology and high-strength grades of steel. In comparison with the predecessor, the length of laser-welded joints has increased 14-fold. The dual-percent increases in static and dynamic body stiffness values are not least attributable to this factor.