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
Body
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The Eos sets new standards regarding body stiffness
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Design: the relationship between length and width creates a powerful presence
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Safety: a roll bar system and high tech metals form a protective enclosure
The Eos is 1.79 meters wide, 4.41meters long and 1.44 meters high. The wheel base is exactly 2.58 meters. These dimensions affect the dynamics of the Eos: due to the relatively broad width in comparison with the length and height, the Eos sits powerfully on its wheels. The considerable track width (more than 1.55 meters) doesn??????????????????????????????????????t just look good; it rather adds to the extraordinary agile and safe road handling characteristics. A further factor contributing to the dynamic driving and handling characteristics of the body: the high body stiffness of the standard model Eos weighing in at 1.469 kilograms. Due to the specific use of highly firm sheet metal and further innovative systems, such as the use of a special railing pipe inside the doors, the Eos?????????????????????????????????????? dynamic and static stiffness achieves the highest standards of the B-class, i.e. vehicles that are exclusively manufactured in southern Germany and Scandinavia. The consequence: pure driving fun, whether the top is down or up. The crash characteristics were set to pass all the expected tests, not just in Europe, like some of its competitor, but world wide.
DESIGN
The CSC-roof allows highly streamlined and elegant curve lines
It has no influence on the Eos?????????????????????????????????????? characteristics, but a great effect on the world outside the new Volkswagen: the design. The CSC-roof allows solutions which make other new cars look not quite so new by comparison. And this is no coincidence: it is partly due to the fact that a new car has been created literally from scratch, as opposed to just modifying a convertible or coupe from an existing volume model. The wedge shape, rising lines, succinctly shaped wings and outward projecting wheel arches underline the dynamics of the design.
Front: The chrome grill in the shape of a coat of arms - used for the first time as standard on the new Passat - as well as the expressive head lights, shape the Volkswagen face of the new era. An equally typical design element is the engine hood which is slightly extended over the head lights, creating the impression of eyebrows. The head light position and form as well as the radiator grille influence the modulation of the Eos?????????????????????????????????????? hood. The V-shaped theme of the grille continues as a broad indentation in the hood. On the edges of the V, the sides of the hood rise in a slight curve, clearly and visually emphasizing the convertible-coupe's wing and wheel housing sections. As a result the appearance of the shoulder area in the front section is very powerful. This superior image is enhanced by the projecting wheel arches and the very wide track.
Rear: The design of the Eos?????????????????????????????????????? rear is no less muscular and athletic. Reflecting the theme of the hood, the rear wings curve upwards in a continuous, lateral crease. The hood??????????????????????????????????????s aerodynamic outline edge lies imbedded between the wings. And this in itself creates a particular dynamic image.
The powerful design of the rear is determined by three style markers: Firstly: the very clear, vertical surface of the trunk lid with the integrated VW-logo. Secondly: the bumpers which are characterized by a large volume extend as far as into the projected wheel arches. Thirdly: the elegant rear lights with their inward pointing trapeze shaped design, reflecting that of the headlights as well as the round central LED element for the rear light, turn signals, brake light and rear spotlight function. The front and the rear bumpers are the same color as the vehicle.
Silhouette: With a closed as well as an open roof the Eos?????????????????????????????????????? lateral line is characterized by a wedge shape which rises towards the rear. Also striking: the seams of the hood and trunk lid which extend laterally as far as the fenders. The dividing line between the hood and the front fenders merges seamlessly into the lower edge of the side windows. The hindmost of the lid seams (the border line between trunk lid and fender) continues the line of the side windows as a dynamic counterpoint. The ensemble of all the lateral shapes achieves an extremely beautiful line, even with for the closed convertible-coupe. Open and from a side perspective, the Eos develops the characteristic charm of a large convertible. The homogenous design of the formally rounded design of the windscreen frame with its upper edge is eye-catching.
PASSIVE SAFETY
Roll bar system comes standard; system comes up from behind the rear bench in 0.25 seconds
The Eos is equipped with a roll bar system which shoots up after 0.25 seconds at the most after the transverse acceleration or if the vehicle incline in the back head rest area exceeds a fixed mark. The roll bar system corresponds in its construction and function to the system used in the New Beetle convertible. The systems roll-over bars are composed of a tensioned and stationary mounted aluminum profile. The interior profile is kept in the rest position through a magnetic switch. Activated by the airbag control unit, the magnetic switch opens up a retaining latch in case of a roll over and uncovers the interior profile. During the extension a spur rack mounted on the interior profile traverses a support latch and secures the interior profile from retracting anytime. Together with the windscreen frame, the extended aluminum profiles provide effective protection in the event of the vehicle being turned over. The extended roll bar can be pushed back down manually as a reversible system.
New airbag technology / Head-thorax airbags double as lateral and window airbags
Also as standard, the Eos has safety optimized head rests and four airbags on board, yet the number four does not reflect the conditions absolutely correctly. Background: parallel with the front airbags, Volkswagen equipped this convertible with special lateral airbags ???????????????????????????????????????so-called head-thorax airbags. During a collision they open horizontally and vertically and cover the entire lateral window band. From a conceptual approach, this way they also perform the tasks of conventional head or window airbags, which could obviously not be stored in an open roof. Furthermore the front passenger airbag can be de-activated as is the case for instance in the Golf or the Passat, if the seat is needed to strap in a small child in a Reboard seat. Isofix fasteners for extra secure anchoring of child seats are available as standard for the rear and optional for the passenger seat.
Airbag sensor system / Sensors in the front doors measure the pressure increase during a collision - this can make them some vital tenths faster
The airbag activation system and the sensor system for front, side and rear end collisions consists of the following components: an airbag control device in the front section of the frame tunnel with three internal acceleration sensors, two longitudinal sensors and one transverse sensor, two satellite sensors for lateral impact recognition. The satellite sensors in the two front doors are designed to react to pressure and measure the increased air pressure caused by the deformation of the front doors in the case of a sideways collision - the most effective concept for the measurement of the subsequent transverse acceleration. A rear end collision is recognized by the two longitudinal acceleration sensors which are integrated in the airbag control devices. Two additional sensors of this kind with an adapted measurement range and a rotary rate sensor in the airbag control device activate the roll bars as well as the electric safety belt tighteners in case of the vehicle turning around its longitudinal axis. In order to best protect the passengers in a bad front, sideways or rear end collision, the roll bars are also activated and the safety belts are tightened. Similar to the Passat, the Eos is equipped with a steering column which has the newly designed clamp for height and length adjustment and which in combination with a energy absorbing telescopic steering column prevents the steering wheel from tilting upwards in a crash.
BODY STRUCTURE
By using mould hardened steels in the vehicle floor and in the lateral structure a missing load path - the fixed roof - could be replaced
The great potential of passive safety was part of the Eos?????????????????????????????????????? construction concept from the first hour of its development. Background: in contrast to a limousine the roof can only be used in a limited manner when looking at a convertible. Volkswagen has solved this problem: by using highly solid and ultra solid - mould hardened - steels in the vehicle floor and the lateral structure, the load path ?????????????????????????????????fixed roof?????????????????????????????????????? could be replaced. These ultra solid metal sheets (warm-remolded) were used in all safety relevant building elements (A-pillars, pipes on the seat cross member with support to the B-pillar, doors and vehicle floor cross members). Example: thanks to the use of an ultra solid railing pipe in the doors the Eos offers a significant improvement in comparison to conventional solutions in terms of the protective function of the passenger space. Also protected and integrated into the body in the space between the rear bench and the rear axle is the 55-liter gas tank.
Due to the optimal ensemble effect of the body structure, running gear and engine gear unit a convertible was created which remains free from rattling noises. Furthermore the Eos has a self-aligning bearing of the engine gear unit. It consists of two journal bearings which are supported by the front longitudinal members of the body and a motor torque support on the front auxiliary frame. An ideal vibration damper. Separate, weight intensive vibration dampers are therefore unnecessary in the Eos.
Fortress / With the use of diagonal struts in the rear underbody and a reinforcing shell an extra level of reinforcement was created
The Eos has generally been developed according to convertible specific requirements. The focus was on the static and dynamic torsional stiffness of the body and the trimmed bodies. Due to the diagonal struts fixed to the rear section of the underbody and an aluminum reinforcing shell which forms a connection between the front auxiliary frame and the longitudinal members in the vehicle front, an additional reinforcement level was created. In addition, the cross section and the sheet metal thickness of the reinforced sill board and the also reinforced back wall improve the torsional stiffness.
