The Car Connection Expert Review
grenwich
subscribe
See more photos:
Volkswagen says the new Eos hardtop convertible is named after the Greek goddess of the dawn. All fine and good, but our nostalgia waxes more for the Greek goddesses often seen driving its predecessor, the VW Cabriolet. In our day — yes, we had a day, thanks — the VW Cabrio was simply the car for girls named Heather and Caitlin to drive around campus.
What a difference 15 years, two months and 19 days makes. While the Eos bears some spiritual relationship to the Cabrio, it’s definitely its own machine. In hackneyed ad rehash-speak, this is not your tri-Delt big sister’s Cabriolet. In part, that’s due to the Eos’ five-piece retractable roof that takes it from coupe to convertible in 25 seconds, with a sunny sunroof mode sandwiched in between. (Note to frat guys still reading: “sandwich” here has nothing to do with food, nor with the tri-Delts.)
And in
fact, the Eos is a little more masculine than the old Cabriolet ever was, thanks
to real horsepower under its tautly penned hood. Two engines will be offered in
the Eos when it arrives at
Even with the higher-powered engine, we’re still okay with thinking of the Eos as the girl-car version of the new Golf/Rabbit. That’s because there’s a Scirocco boy-car version coming from the same Portuguese plant starting in late 2007, outfitted with the same powerplants.
Under pressure
Stereotypes in place, we sampled
the new Eos outside of sunny
The turbo 2.0-liter pushes the Eos with a six-speed manual to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, Volkswagen claims. Top speed is limited to 130 mph.
Our test car had VW’s six-speed version of the Tiptronic transmission, and together the engine and transmission were a more gainly team than the charged combo in, say, Volvo’s C70 hardtop convertible. The VW powertrain simply has less of the rubberband feel in its gears and its blower. A manual’s there to telegraph gender un-ambiguity, but our decided preference in any VW/Audi machine is the DSG transmission, paddle shifters and all.
Top this
The Eos owes a lot of its running gear to the Rabbit/Jetta platform, but with some distinct advantages. While the front end is largely Rabbit/Jetta, the rear suspension is based on the new Passat.
Mazda Activevehicle concept
A nifty buckle-shaped switch toggles the top up and down, while a single lift-or-press switch also lowers or raises all the windows for breezy driving.
There’s also an intermediate step that makes the Eos a sunny coupe, too. The overhead section of the hardtop convertible consists of a glass panel and a sunshade so that, without retracting the entire roof assembly, the Eos feels open. The sunroof panel tilts up for ventilation, just as any conventional sunroof might do.
Slick roof up or down, the Eos has a dynamic look to it, especially with the top down, and the new corporate VW grille looks particularly appealing on it. But our minor quibble is that the Eos’ lines aren’t sexy by any measure. Like the Volvo C70, there’s a matronly look to the Eos that doesn’t adequately represent the sharp mechanicals underneath. After all, if you’re going to be named for a goddess, you need to have a hot bod. Even if it is missing a head and arms.
A manly cockpit
The Eos’ cabin sports GTI style and enviable Volkswagen materials, and room enough even for adult males. The guys in back, though, should be a little dainty. A short stint in the back reinforces the notion that “coupe,” in the Eos’ case, means “2+2,” not “Eldorado.”
JD Power button
Fine finishes and tight seams abound in the cockpit. Audi’s clearly had a great influence on VW interiors over the past decade, and the Eos’ big air vents, large cupholders, and wonderful stereo/navigation system show that, finally, American fans of the brand aren’t being ignored. The power seats on the Eos have memory features and are soothingly upholstered for long drives — even brief naps, if the Portuguese sun overcomes you too.
It’s all understated and refined. What’s more it’s filled to the brim with safety stuff that will protect the Eos (and you) in a crash. Rollover protection comes in the form of twin hoops behind the back seats. Stability control is standard, as are front airbags and side airbags tall enough to protect your head and chest.
Getting the goat
Winding through
You’ll do so in great comfort, even with the slight bit of squish tuned into the Eos that you’ll detect when you transition from autobahn-smooth interstates to softer, crumblier side roads. The steering and braking never let up, though, in spite of the Eos’s added heft. A stout body structure is remarkably quiver-free.
Mitsu Pajero
But among its like — the C70 and
G6 — the Eos is the standout. The base car comes with nice 16-inch wheels, air
conditioning, and power features for a price nearly equal to the
The standard Eos goes on sale in September.
Base
price: $28,620 (V-6,
$37,480)
Engine:
Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 200 hp/207 lb-ft
Transmission:
Six-speed manual, automatic or DSG, front-wheel drive
Length x width
x height: 173.6 x 70.5 x 56.8 inches
Wheelbase:
101.5 inches
Curb
weight: 3386 lb
Fuel economy
(EPA city/hwy): N/A
Safety
equipment: Dual front and side airbags; anti-lock brakes and
stability control
Major standard
equipment: AM/FM/CD player; power door locks, windows and
mirrors; air conditioning; cruise control
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
