The Volkswagen Jetta is the sedan version of the compact car / small family car Volkswagen Golf, manufactured by Volkswagen since 1980. Between 1991 and 2005, the name was only used in North America and South Africa, as it was dropped in Europe in 1991, when it was replaced by the Vento, which was in turn replaced by the Bora in 1998. The Jetta was developed due in part of the Volkswagen marketing group's observation that the North American market leaned more towards sedans as opposed to the Golf's hatchback configuration. Similarly, in South Africa, the Jetta remains more popular than the Golf. This proved to be a wise move on Volkswagen's part, as the Jetta became the best-selling European car in the United States. The mechanicals are shared with the other Volkswagen A platform cars. Currently, it's marketing phrase in the US is "Safe happens".
# 1 A1 (1980―1984), the first generation
# 2 A2 (1984―1992), the 2nd generation
# 3 A3 (1991―1998), the 3rd generation
# 4 A4 (1998―2005), the 4th generation
# 5 A5 (2005―present), the 5th generation
In North America, the A5 Jetta went on sale in March 2005, as a 2005 1/2 model, overlapping the final model year of the A4 Jetta. A GLI version was released as a 2006 model in North America in the late summer of 2005. The new Jetta was designed by Walter de'Silva. 2005 sales of the New Jetta were disappointing in the US, with the exception of the TDI diesel version, where rapidly rising fuel prices have resulted in heavy demand for vehicles equipped with this engine. While critics embraced the overall vehicle, many thought that it was too high-priced for the highly competitive compact car market. In 2006, Car and Driver named the new GLI an Everyday Hero for an enthusiast who wants sports car handling without losing too much practicality. A station wagon version of the A5 Jetta is promised for 2007.
Volkswagen announced the Jetta in Europe in late May 2005. The model range returns to using the Jetta name on the continent, rather than Bora or Vento. In other parts of the world, this model does retain both names, usually in cases where a previous generation is still sold. For example, in Mexico, the A4 is still sold as the Jetta, while the A5 is the Bora. In China, the A2 is still sold as the Jetta, while the A5 is sold as the Sagitar together with the A4 Bora.
It was launched in Latin America in 2006, where it is called Vento, as the A4 Bora will be sold for some time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Jetta#A5_.282005_.E2.80.94_present.29
# 1 A1 (1980―1984), the first generation
# 2 A2 (1984―1992), the 2nd generation
# 3 A3 (1991―1998), the 3rd generation
# 4 A4 (1998―2005), the 4th generation
# 5 A5 (2005―present), the 5th generation
In North America, the A5 Jetta went on sale in March 2005, as a 2005 1/2 model, overlapping the final model year of the A4 Jetta. A GLI version was released as a 2006 model in North America in the late summer of 2005. The new Jetta was designed by Walter de'Silva. 2005 sales of the New Jetta were disappointing in the US, with the exception of the TDI diesel version, where rapidly rising fuel prices have resulted in heavy demand for vehicles equipped with this engine. While critics embraced the overall vehicle, many thought that it was too high-priced for the highly competitive compact car market. In 2006, Car and Driver named the new GLI an Everyday Hero for an enthusiast who wants sports car handling without losing too much practicality. A station wagon version of the A5 Jetta is promised for 2007.
Volkswagen announced the Jetta in Europe in late May 2005. The model range returns to using the Jetta name on the continent, rather than Bora or Vento. In other parts of the world, this model does retain both names, usually in cases where a previous generation is still sold. For example, in Mexico, the A4 is still sold as the Jetta, while the A5 is the Bora. In China, the A2 is still sold as the Jetta, while the A5 is sold as the Sagitar together with the A4 Bora.
It was launched in Latin America in 2006, where it is called Vento, as the A4 Bora will be sold for some time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Jetta#A5_.282005_.E2.80.94_present.29
