Fridae

Coupe cabriolets have the unenviable task of being two vehicles in one. The Volkswagen Eos transforms from a coupe into a sleek 4-seater cabriolet in 25 seconds with just a push of a button located behind the handbrakes. The Volkswagen Eos named after the Greek Goddess of dawn and wind has a lot of promises to live up to, especially since the German carmaker has the opportunity to study the flaws of rivals that were launched earlier.

Task 1: Beauty Pageant

The Eos has a sporty coupe look with a squatted stance within its compact dimensions. It has managed to avoid the big ass syndrome like its rivals; the Peugeot 307 CC and the Renault Megane CC (more about this at the end of this article). No clumsy looking boot business here for Volkswagen, a lowered windscreen and a 5-piece folding roof is engineered to ensure that the Eos's rear proportions are kept compact ensuring a sleek look regardless if the roof is up or being stowed away neatly in the boot. The application of chrome to the front grille and in particular the waistline of the car has given the coupe cabriolet a very classy and elegant look, reminding me of the Audi Cabrio which the late Princess Diana had. Style is abundant here.

Task 2: Driving abilities: to please the prince
The VW Eos is not a simple end result after sawing off the top and using solely Golf (also known as the Rabbit in America) mechanics. This car is a mixture of Golf and Passat's bits. The chassis of the Eos uses the front of the Golf's suspension system and the rear components from the Passat. The Eos sports the heavenly 2.0 turbocharged engine from the Golf GTi! In other parts of the world, the Eos comes with the option of a more powerful 3.2 liter V6. In my opinion, the 2.0 turbocharged engine is an ideal choice with decent fuel economy while providing adequate grunt. The Eos is not equipped with the Haldex 4-wheel drive system used in the Golf R32; the V6's power can overwhelm the front wheel driven Eos! The highly acclaimed DSG gearbox is as good as it promise; seamless and quick! No jerking around while delivering 200 singing horsepowers relentlessly while being backed by 280 NM of twisting torque bursting at the command of my right foot! Your Hermes scarf (or Ed Harris cap) may need some extra securing as you romp the Eos into illegal speeds unknowingly!

Task 3: Ride Comfort; fit for a princess
The Eos provides occupants a cosseting ride as potholes on bad roads are erased efficiently. While it may not dart around corners with as much conviction as a Golf GTi, the steering does impart valuable information to the driver as the 2.0 turbocharged engine shoves the slightly lardy 1536 kg coupe convertible effortlessly. Volvo C70 drivers might feel cheated of the hefty S$50K premium they had paid for once they set foot on the Volkswagen Eos. The stiff body structure of the Volkswagen eradicates any shuttle shake that can be felt on the Volvo C70 which at the same time does not drive or ride as well as the Eos.

Task 4: Quality interior for everyday abuse
The interior too is a combination of the Passat (doors) and the Golf (dash). The build quality in the Eos's interior does impart a quality feel. However the quality of some plastics in the lower regions of the interior does disappoint. Regardless, the overall ambience of the Eos is comfortable and soothing; the blue coloured theme of the dash lights at night further imposes the "chill-out" mood. Rear accommodation is adequate for the occasional passenger(s) while boot space is surprisingly generous at 400 liters with the roof up. It has to be noted that boot space is halved with the roof being stowed away. The thoughtful designers has included a huge sunroof, creating an almost Porsche 911 Targa like atmosphere when fully opened as it leaves other parts of the roof intact. Volkswagen's new major stakeholder, Porsche is already having inputs on the Eos!

Verdict: 4 out of 4?
The Volkswagen Eos is indeed a M.T.V, and it does all its' tasks with the finesse expected from the German carmaker aspiring to join the ranks of premium car brands. Keen drivers like myself might want to explore the Volkswagen option list for items like lowered sports suspension and bigger 18 inch rims. These 2 items could take some ride comfort away to trade in for even better driving manners. A black Volkswagen Eos 2.0 TSI with red leather upholstery for you? Royal treatment without breaking the piggy bank.

	Volkswagen Model Eos 2.0T FSI
Engine	1984 cc 4 cylinder 16V, DOHC, Turbocharged
Transmission	6-Speed DSG (Automatic)
Max. Power	200 HP @ 5100-6000rpm
Max. Torque	280 NM @ 1800rpm to 5000 rpm
Top Speed	232 km/h
0-100 KM/H	7.8 secs
CO2 Emissions	216 g/km (Euro IV compliant)
Fuel Economy	8.4 L/100km (combined cycle)
Dimensions (LxWxH)/Weight	4,407x1,791x1,443 / 1536kg
Price	S$154,000*

*Prices quoted are indicative of prices in Singapore. Please contact your local distributor for prices in your country.

*You Need to Know!
The French duo of Peugeot 307 CC and Renault Megane CC were launched into the market very quickly; perhaps they were undercooked? These cars are based on the mechanics of humble hatchbacks. A close inspection on the size of the windscreens of the Frenchies will betray the lack of engineering depth; the windscreens were unchanged from the regular hatchbacks causing the roof that needs to be stow away to be huge. This is because the rear windscreen's size cannot be made sleeker. Hence the back of these French cars are elephant sized in order to house the roof when it is being stowed away. The Peugeot 307 CC and the Renault Megane CC are classic examples of the French attempting to be fashionable but disregarding everything else that matters!

P.S. The weekend I had with the Eos was highlighted by a dash for shelter to avoid birds poopoo-ing while the roof was down; on-lookers were amused, no kidding!