Volkswagen's Bora to become Jetta

VOLKSWAGEN Group Australia will rename its Bora sedan the Jetta when the new-generation medium car arrives here at the end of the first quarter of 2006.

PR general manager Matthew Wiesner confirmed to GoAuto this week that all western markets, including Australia, would take on the Jetta name.

Having grown in all key dimensions, VW’s new mid-sizer is set to shake its ‘Golf with a boot’ status and, according to Mr Wiesner, will match the Mazda6, Honda Accord Euro and Subaru Liberty in both size and price.

Expect a slight price premium over the equivalent Japanese rival.

Three engines are likely to make it to Australia, including a 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre turbo and 1.9-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-diesels.

The car is already known as Jetta in the United States, where the company claims it is the top-selling European car outright.

Resting on a 2580mm wheelbase (up 65mm from the current version), the all-new Jetta measures 4560mm in overall length (up 182mm), 1760mm in width (up 25mm) and 1460mm in height (up 15mm).

The luggage area has increased 72 litres to 527 litres. A 60/40 split-fold rear seat can also be folded forward to form an almost-flat floor.