2012 Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet – Click above for high-res image gallery
Ladies and gentlemen, the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet has returned. One of the most popular line of convertibles ever made, the Golf Cabrio has been missing from the VW range since the MkIV model was cancelled in 2003. Even so, the most recent Cabrio was simply a MkIII car with a touched-up front end, meaning that the last new Golf Cabrio was actually introduced way back in 1993. This, then, is a bit of a milestone.
What of the Eos, you ask? A fine question. Arguably more closely related to the Jetta in the first place, the Eos will continue alongside the Golf Cabriolet (not to mention the New Beetle convertible, which is due to end production this year before its replacement comes along). The Eos is longer than the Golf Cabrio, though the same wheelbase ensures similar interior dimensions. The Eos also incorporates a retractable hard-top while the new Golf Cabriolet goes the fabric roof route, covering both bases. The Golf's mechanism takes just 9.5 seconds to drop and can be operated at speeds up to 18 miles per hour. With the roof itself acting as tonneau cover, less trunk space is compromised.
A range of six turbocharged, direct-injection gasoline and diesel engines will be offered worldwide, five of them available with dual-clutch transmissions and three with BlueMotion technology.
There's no word on availability for us in the United States, but given the similarity with the Eos and company's strategy vis-a-vis the Scirocco, it's entirely possible this could remain outside our reach like the latter. We'll have a closer look at the Golf Cabriolet when it debuts next week at the Geneva Motor Show, but for now you can check out the images in the gallery below and the details in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Volkswagen]
Volkswagen kicks off Open Air Season 2011: World debut of new Golf Cabriolet in Geneva
Wolfsburg, 23 February 2011 - In its presentation of the new Golf Cabriolet at the 81st Geneva International Motor Show, Volkswagen is writing a new chapter of a global success story. The four-seater has an innovative soft top with an electro-hydraulic drive that opens the Golf's top in just 9.5 seconds.
The new Volkswagen's styling follows that of its hard-top three-door counterpart, but it shows a high level of independence with a new rear section, lower profile roof line and more swept-back angle of its front windscreen frame. The convertible's image is especially dynamic when ordered with optional bi-xenon headlights. Always a standard feature: the LED rear lights like those of the GTI. Other standard safety features offering peace of mind are the automatically deploying roll-over bar, front airbags, side head/thorax airbags, knee airbag for the driver and ESP.
The new Golf is one of the quietest convertibles today. Its soothing quietness is attributable to the new soft top that was optimised in specific ways. It also has a standard hydraulic drive that opens the Golf's top extremely quickly. The top can also be opened or closed during driving at speeds of up to 30 km/h.
Ideal for cruising with a convertible are the six turbocharged direct-injection engines whose power outputs range from 77 kW / 105 PS to 155 kW / 210 PS. Four of the petrol engines (TSI) and one diesel (TDI) are available with the DSG dual-clutch gearbox; while three of the engines are available with energy-saving BlueMotion Technology. Just how efficiently the new Golf Cabriolet handles fuel is illustrated by the 1.6 TDI with 105 PS and BlueMotion Technology: It only consumes 4.4 l/100 km (equivalent to 117 g/km CO2).
In Germany, advance sales begin tomorrow with prices starting at 23.625,- Euros. Essentially, all of the features offered in the classic, hard top Golf are also available in the new Golf Cabriolet. The only feature that will definitely not be offered is a sunroof ...
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