Golf Cabriolet won’t cannibalise Eos, says Volkswagen

VOLKSWAGEN Group Australia (VGA) says it is confident the Golf Cabriolet will not cannibalise sales of its just face-lifted convertible Eos when the new Golf drop-top joins the local range in the last quarter of this year.

The Golf Cabriolet will be positioned as a more youthful and sporty model, with entry level pricing expected to significantly undercut the most affordable Eos.

VGA has prepared for the arrival of the Golf Cabriolet by changing the specification of the Eos, dropping the manual model and fitting leather trim as standard across the range.

The company remains tight-lipped about the specification of the Golf soft-top, but GoAuto understands it will offer a choice of a petrol and diesel models and with manual and automatic transmissions.

It also will not talk price, but VGA managing director Anke Koeckler said the Golf Cabriolet will not take sales away from the Eos, which starts at $49,990.

“The concept is very different you are targeting different customers,” she said.



“Right now with the Eos, you are talking about a multi-purpose car – it is a coupe and cabriolet and it is hard top which makes it very different from the traditional soft-roof cabriolet.

“The Golf Cabriolet will appeal to younger buyers.” Ms Koeckler said the pricing strategy would also help to separate the two models.

“Also the Golf Cabriolet will be in a different price segment, and the whole design and concept behind it is very different,” she said.

The Golf Cabriolet was last seen here in 2003 when the face-lifted MK3 version was dropped from the local line-up. It was replaced by the New Beetle cabriolet, which has just exited stage left as production of that model winds up.

An all-new Beetle, which is about to go on sale in the US, is expected to come to Australia next year, including hatch and cabriolet versions. If the Beetle cabriolet makes it to Australia, it is expected to be priced above Golf Cabriolet.

The Golf cabriolet has four seats and a fast folding soft-top that can open in just 9.5 seconds and can be operated when driving at up to 30km/h. Customers are promised a practical cargo area, with the boot able to stow 250 litres of luggage even when the roof is down.

VGA was able to choose from six engine options including a 77kW 1.2-litre, 90kW and 118kW 1.4-litre and 155kW 2.0-litre forced-induction TSI four-cylinder petrol units as well as a 77kW 1.6-litre and 103kW 2.0-litre TDI four-cylinder turbo-diesel powerplants.