New VW Eos In Depth

Press Release

Page 1 – In Brief
Page 2 – Positioning
Page 3 – Roof
Page 4 – Body
Page 5 – Interior
Page 6 – Equipment
Page 7 – Engines
Page 8 – Running gear
Page 9 – Trials

Positioning

• The first convertible-coupe with an integrated sliding/tilting glass roof

• The convertible-coupe Eos is positioned above the New Beetle convertible
  
  

The CSC-roof makes the Eos a convertible-coupe for every day of the year

After the production of more than one million Volkswagen convertibles of the Käfer, Karmann Ghia, Golf and New Beetle series, the new Eos will take off to a flying start in May. As the first standard automobile world wide, the four-seater is equipped with a five section coupe, convertible and sun roof (CSC-roof). It opens and closes in just 25 seconds. The quick transformation from coupe to convertible is achieved by four hydraulic cylinders on either side of the vehicle.

The roof isn’t just quick. But its hard top was designed with technical and visual finesse. Firstly: the front section is held in a glass look. As standard this section can also be opened and tilted upwards like a conventional - but very large - glass tilting roof. Even in the closed mode a light, friendly and fresh atmosphere is created inside. Secondly: thanks to the wide roof span the windscreen frame could be kept short. This provides more room and more sky for the driver and front passenger. Thirdly: another benefit is that the proportions are streamlined, the roof line is stretched, the rear section muscular and the overall impression is of a high quality. Fourthly: with the roof open it is also obvious that the Eos was especially designed as a convertible-coupe, as opposed to following the example of many limousines with added on convertible features.

Nevertheless the new Volkswagen consciously shows a technical proximity to the Passat as far as the running gear and the propulsion system are concerned. The Eos is positioned in the segment above the New Beetle convertible, which has been on offer worldwide since 2003 and is the successor to the Golf Cabriolet. Regarding the price as well as the design, the Eos ranges in the segment between the Golf and the Passat. The price of the standard version (85 kW / 115 hp) recommends itself as an interesting introduction into the world of the all-year-round convertible and includes details such as ESP, semi automatic air conditioning (Climatic), power windows, alloy rims, LED rear lights, maximum safety front head rests, airbags, specially developed head and thorax airbags, a roll bar system which comes out in 0.25 seconds and two full rear seats.

All year round suitability / An uncompromising convertible and an equally uncompromising coupe

The different development areas of Volkswagen were given the task of putting a convertible on wheels that’s suitable year-round. With the roof closed it was to offer all the characteristics of a coupe. The roof construction, developed together with the Webasto company, proved to be a very solid and variable. One thing is for sure: the Eos is the only convertible with a five section folding roof made from steel worldwide. This roof provides the conceptional base for an uncompromising all-year-round ability, the homogenous convertible-design and the pure convertible feeling, as laid down in the specifications.

Agile and comfortable / Passat rear axle and Golf front axle make the Eos a cruiser and a sports car rolled into one

A further point can be added to this, which is of fundamental importance for the success in the market place: the road handling. Individual components of the Eos’ running gear can be found in the comfortable Passat as well as in the sprightly Golf GTI, but of course they were adjusted to fit the specific demands of the Eos. Looking at the rear, the multi-link-axle derived from the Passat is pointing the way. The Eos’ front axle is used in much the same way in the Golf. In addition, the four agile gas engines and one diesel engine make the Eos, in combination with the newly designed running gear, not just a comfortable cruiser, but - in the more powerful versions - a superior sports car as well.

A model for conquest / In the A-class the Eos presents itself with the quality image of the B-class; in the B-class the Eos takes off at A-class prices

Due to its uncompromising design, its convertible characteristics and its sporty as well as comfortable road handling, Volkswagen sees the new Eos as an achievable VW brand name dream for many drivers. As a result the clientele addressed by the Eos is expected to be comparatively large, because the convertible-coupe will be positioned, as sketched out, between the A- and B-class. Example A-class: here the Eos recommends itself as a vehicle with the quality image of the higher B-class. There has been a conscious decision to use only one equipment line which can be customized according to taste and financial resources. Moreover, the Eos stands out from many of its competitors in the A-segment due to the greater performance spectrum of its engines and high-end technologies such as the double gearbox DSG, a Dynaudio-sound system and, of course, the new CSC-roof.

Example B-class: even though the Eos is a little shorter than some of its competitors, it offers a comparatively spacious interior that is in any case just as comfortable. The sliding/tilting glass roof is unique among the top convertibles of the B-class and only one of them sports a folding steel roof. Despite this the Eos is far less pricy. To put it differently: the Eos transcends the border between the classes. And that is typical for Volkswagen.

Eos takes off to a flying start world wired / The five markets with the highest sales volume are Germany, the US, the UK, France and Italy

In the long run Volkswagen will offer the new convertible-coupe world wide. The five markets with the highest sales volume are expected to be Germany with an 30 percent segment, the US with 29 percent, the UK 9 percent, France 8 percent followed by Italy, Belgium Spain and Switzerland.

According to the prognosis from the preliminary stages of the development, the Eos is being bought by men and women alike. The central target group ranges from 35 to 45 years of age and they are status conscious. 15 percent are singles.

Five strong engines / The 140 hp TDI for frequent drivers, four gas engines with a performance spectrum from 115 to 250 hp

In Germany the 115 to 250 hp with particulate filter as standard will be among the most popular vehicles with long distance drivers. As one of very few manufacturers, Volkswagen features economic direct fuel injection in all their four cylinder gas engines. Their performance figures are 85 kW / 115, 110 kW / 150 und 147 kW / 200 und 250 hp. The particularly agile and high torque turbo charged 200 hp engine has already advanced to become a kind of a cult engine in the Golf GTI. Another small masterpiece is the 250 hp strong six cylinder engine which made its debut in the Golf R32. In the Eos it is combined with the automatic double clutch transmission (DSG) as standard. For the 140 hp TDI and the 200 hp TFSI Volkswagen offers the DSG as an optional.

On the bottom line, this car, which is itself of a rather emotional bent, offers many substantial features. The name itself stands for emotion. The name Eos is derived from the goddess of sunrise and is meant to evoke associations with an idealized image of driving a convertible: the early moments of a summer’s day. Legend has it that the goddess rises every morning in her phaeton from the depths of the sea to bring daylight to mankind.