Mark 5 (2003–present)
The fifth generation Golf (VW Typ 1K) was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October of 2003 and went on sale in Europe one month later. It was not released in the United States until January of 2006, however, and then only in GTI form through the spring of 2006. For the presentation of the new Golf, Wolfsburg was renamed "Golfsburg" for a week. Before the North American launch of the Golf in June of 2006, Volkswagen of America announced the decision to rebrand the Golf and return the Rabbit nameplate to the U.S. and Canadian markets.[2] It continues to be sold in Europe as Golf. Volkswagen of America is promoting the cost economy and native manufacture in Wolfsburg, Germany. Most print ads for the Rabbit show the old badge (a running rabbit, commonly recognized by most Americans) with the phrase "It's back, at $14,990." TV ads show Rabbits chasing after each other with their numbers increasing until they fill the streets of a city, a sort of double entendre on the phrase "multiplying like rabbits".
[edit] Design and engineering
Mark 5 GTI in Rome
While the interior quality of the previous model startled rivals and led most of them to up their game in revised/replacement models, the astonishing chassis and all round ability of the Mark 1 Ford Focus startled Volkswagen (and indeed other rivals). In order to counter criticisms of the average dynamics of the previous model, it is widely reputed that Volkswagen poached from Ford the engineering team who designed the multi-link 'control blade' rear suspension system of the Ford Focus, widely regarded as the class benchmark for ride and handling. Indeed, the rear suspension of Golf 5 (a modified wishbone arrangement) bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the Focus.
The suspension changes, along with careful tuning of the chassis, led to the Mark 5 Golf delivering road manners which challenged the Ford Focus, and although the chassis ability was only just short of the Focus', the overall ability of the rest of the car led to the Mark 5 Golf being the best car in its class until the Mark 2 Ford Focus arrived in 2004.
North American Spec 2006 MK5 Golf GTI
The bulletproof interior quality of the previous generation appears to have been lost, and although still of a very high standard and ahead of other rivals the Golf no longer matches its in-house rival, the Audi A3. Many believe the reason for this step back in quality, also seen in the Mark 5 Passat of 2005, is to allow daylight between the marketing and price positioning of Audi and Volkswagen products. The previous generation Volkswagens were on a par with their Audi cousins.
The Golf 5 has proven expensive to build - largely due to its uncommonly long 50-hour build time. According to multiple reports in the European press, its replacement is thus likely to be rolled out in 2008, a good two years earlier than originally scheduled. This means that the production run of the U.S. version of the Mark 5, introduced only in 2006 two years after its world debut - is likely to have an uncommonly short production run.
Awards
2007 Car and Driver - Among Ten Best of the Year (GTI)
2007 Automobile Magazine - Car of the Year (GTI)
2005 Auto Express - Best Hot Hatch (Golf GTI)
2005 Auto Express - Best Sporting Car (Golf GTI)
2004 WhatCar? Car of the Year
2004 WhatCar? Best Small Family Car
2004 Winner - AutoExpress New Car Honours
2004 Best Hatch - BBC Top Gear Magazine Awards
[edit] Engines
Options for engines and transmissions vary from country to country, but the Golf is available with a gasoline 4-cylinder and a new PD diesel unit-injector TDI engine. Transmission options include manual, automatic, Tiptronic, and direct-shift gearbox (DSG).
North American-spec Rabbits will use the same 150 hp 2.5 L five-cylinder gasoline engine that powers the Jetta and New Beetle in these markets. The GTI will come with VW's 2.0L turbo 4 which makes 200HP and 207 lb/torque. North American transmission choices will include a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic for the Rabbit. While North American GTIs receive a 6-Speed manual or 6-speed DSG.
All of the Golf's engines, including the VR6, have the engine mounting points in the same place, making it possible to remove one engine and replace it with another while making few other modifications to the car.
[edit] Mark 5 Jetta
A trunked version of the Mark 5 Golf was spawned in 2004 and, as with previous incarnations of the Golf, it maintained its own identity, a practice long abandoned by most rivals. While the Jetta name has always remained in North America, the name made a return to Europe replacing the Bora name of the previous Golf saloon. The Jetta name was also introduced to Australia with the Mark 5, the Mark 4 Bora being a slow seller there.
As with its predecessor the Jetta featured unique front wings and rear doors, but the front doors were also unique so the only external panel shared with the Golf was the bonnet. As with all Golf saloons, the Jetta featured a unique grille which is only shared with the contemporary Golf R32 (although the GLI variant has the Golf GTI's front end). Unlike all previous saloon variants however, the front lights were now shared with the Golf.
As with the previous Jetta/Bora, Volkswagen is again trying to market the car as a rival to mainstream large family cars, such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall/Opel/Holden/Chevrolet Vectra, leaving the Passat to compete against the premium marques. The smaller Jetta, though, is still a Golf saloon whose true rivals are the Ford Focus, Vauxhall/Holden/Opel Astra, etc.
Mark 5 marks the return of the Rabbit name in the United States. Volkswagen has stated that the change in name was due to Golf not being as important in the US and it allows for creative marketing in hope to make the car more competitive. Because of the preference for sedans in the US market, the Jetta outsells the Golf 10 to 1.
[edit] Design and engineering
Mark 5 GTI in Rome
While the interior quality of the previous model startled rivals and led most of them to up their game in revised/replacement models, the astonishing chassis and all round ability of the Mark 1 Ford Focus startled Volkswagen (and indeed other rivals). In order to counter criticisms of the average dynamics of the previous model, it is widely reputed that Volkswagen poached from Ford the engineering team who designed the multi-link 'control blade' rear suspension system of the Ford Focus, widely regarded as the class benchmark for ride and handling. Indeed, the rear suspension of Golf 5 (a modified wishbone arrangement) bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the Focus.
The suspension changes, along with careful tuning of the chassis, led to the Mark 5 Golf delivering road manners which challenged the Ford Focus, and although the chassis ability was only just short of the Focus', the overall ability of the rest of the car led to the Mark 5 Golf being the best car in its class until the Mark 2 Ford Focus arrived in 2004.
North American Spec 2006 MK5 Golf GTI
The bulletproof interior quality of the previous generation appears to have been lost, and although still of a very high standard and ahead of other rivals the Golf no longer matches its in-house rival, the Audi A3. Many believe the reason for this step back in quality, also seen in the Mark 5 Passat of 2005, is to allow daylight between the marketing and price positioning of Audi and Volkswagen products. The previous generation Volkswagens were on a par with their Audi cousins.
The Golf 5 has proven expensive to build - largely due to its uncommonly long 50-hour build time. According to multiple reports in the European press, its replacement is thus likely to be rolled out in 2008, a good two years earlier than originally scheduled. This means that the production run of the U.S. version of the Mark 5, introduced only in 2006 two years after its world debut - is likely to have an uncommonly short production run.
Awards
2007 Car and Driver - Among Ten Best of the Year (GTI)
2007 Automobile Magazine - Car of the Year (GTI)
2005 Auto Express - Best Hot Hatch (Golf GTI)
2005 Auto Express - Best Sporting Car (Golf GTI)
2004 WhatCar? Car of the Year
2004 WhatCar? Best Small Family Car
2004 Winner - AutoExpress New Car Honours
2004 Best Hatch - BBC Top Gear Magazine Awards
[edit] Engines
Options for engines and transmissions vary from country to country, but the Golf is available with a gasoline 4-cylinder and a new PD diesel unit-injector TDI engine. Transmission options include manual, automatic, Tiptronic, and direct-shift gearbox (DSG).
North American-spec Rabbits will use the same 150 hp 2.5 L five-cylinder gasoline engine that powers the Jetta and New Beetle in these markets. The GTI will come with VW's 2.0L turbo 4 which makes 200HP and 207 lb/torque. North American transmission choices will include a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic for the Rabbit. While North American GTIs receive a 6-Speed manual or 6-speed DSG.
All of the Golf's engines, including the VR6, have the engine mounting points in the same place, making it possible to remove one engine and replace it with another while making few other modifications to the car.
[edit] Mark 5 Jetta
A trunked version of the Mark 5 Golf was spawned in 2004 and, as with previous incarnations of the Golf, it maintained its own identity, a practice long abandoned by most rivals. While the Jetta name has always remained in North America, the name made a return to Europe replacing the Bora name of the previous Golf saloon. The Jetta name was also introduced to Australia with the Mark 5, the Mark 4 Bora being a slow seller there.
As with its predecessor the Jetta featured unique front wings and rear doors, but the front doors were also unique so the only external panel shared with the Golf was the bonnet. As with all Golf saloons, the Jetta featured a unique grille which is only shared with the contemporary Golf R32 (although the GLI variant has the Golf GTI's front end). Unlike all previous saloon variants however, the front lights were now shared with the Golf.
As with the previous Jetta/Bora, Volkswagen is again trying to market the car as a rival to mainstream large family cars, such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall/Opel/Holden/Chevrolet Vectra, leaving the Passat to compete against the premium marques. The smaller Jetta, though, is still a Golf saloon whose true rivals are the Ford Focus, Vauxhall/Holden/Opel Astra, etc.
Mark 5 marks the return of the Rabbit name in the United States. Volkswagen has stated that the change in name was due to Golf not being as important in the US and it allows for creative marketing in hope to make the car more competitive. Because of the preference for sedans in the US market, the Jetta outsells the Golf 10 to 1.
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