Road TestCar reviews - Volkswagen - Eos - TFSI coupe-cabrioletVolkswagen modelsOverviewVolkswagen's Eos is more than just a fair weather friend13 Jul 2007 By CHRIS HARRIS IF THE fantasies of the past are yet to come to fruition – flying cars, swimming cars – at least we have the coupe-cabriolet. Here is a concept that can be a full-blown convertible one minute, and an enclosed, metal-roofed coupe the next. Car-makers cannot get into the act fast enough. Mercedes-Benz started the modern trend with its two-seat SLK during the 1990s and now just about everybody wants a piece of the action. And – when you consider some of the early and even still-current attempts at getting the styling right – they are starting to look good too. But, until VW’s Eos came along early this year, nobody had devised a coupe-convertible that virtually closed the gap to regular coupes by designing-in a sliding glass sunroof. In a market niche where ingenuity abounds, the four-seat Eos stands at the front of the pack. Model release date: 1 March 2007 to 1 April 2011 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelIT MAY look like a Mk4 Golf, but the Mk3 Cabriolet is a facelifted Mk3 version, and uses virtually all of the older car’s mechanicals wholesale. This means that the upper-spec GL is powered by a 85kW/166Nm 2.0-litre single-cam four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic or – less commonly – a five-speed manual gearbox. A gutsy and willing performer, with sharp handling and a comfy ride, the Cabrio makes a surprisingly capable four-seater small car, although the small boot aperture may put some people off. The tight-fitting electrically operated fabric roof also does a good job keeping out the elements. |
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