The Volkswagen Bora was revealed in 1999 as the fourth generation of the Volkswagen Jetta. It is a small family car, which Volkswagen named after the Bora winter wind that blows over the Adriatic Sea. It was produced in 4-door notchback saloon and 5-door estate body styles with a front-engine, front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive layout. It was based on the VW Group A4 (PQ34) platform featuring a rounded shape and more curved corners, following VW’s new design language seen earlier in the Passat.
There were two new engine options offered, the 1.8L 20vT and the VR6. In 2004, the VW Bora came with more advanced Pumpe-Düse unit injector diesel engines, which were later replaced with a common-rail design, such as the new 1.6 TDI.
The Bora was easily distinguishable by its Whiptenna, which was shorter and adopted a more leeward position than the traditional antenna, as well as rain sensor-controlled windshield wipers and automatic climate control.
In Australia, it was available from 1999 to 2007 in 2.0i and 2.3i V5 variants as well as the 2.8i V6 that was introduced in 2001.
The powertrain options offered in Australia were:
- 2.0L petrol engine producing 85kW and 170Nm of torque paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.3L V5 petrol engine producing 110kW and 205Nm of torque paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.3L V5 petrol engine producing 125kW and 220Nm of torque paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.8L VR6 petrol engine producing 150kW and 270Nm of torque paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox
The following were the basic features introduced in all trim levels:
Dual Front Airbags Package, ABS, Air Conditioning, Alarm System/Remote Anti Theft, Adjustable Steering Wheel - Tilt & Telescopic, Cruise Control, Central Locking Remote Control, EBD, Engine Immobiliser, Leather Steering Wheel, Power Mirrors, Power Steering, Power Windows, Radio CD with 8 Speakers, Seatbelts - Pretensioners Front Seats, Side Front Airbags, Sport Seats
2.3L V5 added: Automatic Air Con / Climate Control, Fog Lights - Front, Heated Front Seats, and Leather Upholstery
In 2001, the base trim included 15-inch alloy wheels, cloth trim and a trip computer as additional features to the previous base model's standard equipment.
The 2.3L V5 and V6 4Motion trim levels added 16-inch alloy wheels, CD with 6-CD stacker, radio cassette, traction control system, and wood grain trim on top of what the base model offered.
The safety features that the VW Bora offered were its best assets. It was built using advanced technologies, and as a result, it received high ratings in the crash tests. It was rated with 5/5 stars for both driver and passenger protection in the NCAP. As the side-curtain airbags came as a standard with the 2001 model, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Bora with the highest score.
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Author: Andrijana Pavlovic