2007 Volkswagon Eos

All that’s ahead of you is the open road. Sunglasses on, radio up, and, with the wind in your hair, you’re flying down the highway with the top down. The life of the convertible owner is a good one—and sometimes, a dangerous one. Volkswagen, known for adding a little safety to its Cabrio/let convertible line (discontinued in 2002) by adding a rollbar, has done it again. Introducing the Volkswagen Eos—a hardtop convertible named for the Greek goddess of Dawn.

Designed with a coupe in mind, the hardtop can convert from fully closed to completely open in just 25 seconds. Though the engine and transmission make it a close cousin to the Golf and the Jetta, the Eos is not based off of any current VW model. The benefits of the hard top include increased stability in case of an accident, complete shelter from the elements, and the quiet that comes from an enclosed car. For those that don’t want to mess up their hair, their quiet, or just the papers in the back, the Eos also comes with a sunroof setting, which allows the hardtop to only open halfway.

Standard features in the Eos include a 200-horsepower, 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Electronic stability control, an active pop-up rollbar, and side and head-protection airbags also come in the basic safety package. Also standard is electronic easy-entry seats, foglights, and 16” alloy wheels. Upgrades include the option of a 250-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 engine, as well as bi-xenon headlights that move in the direction of a signaled turn and a dynaudio sound system. Transmissions offered are a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed manual with automated shifting and clutch. Trunk storage space is 11 cubic feet with the top closed. One can expect to get 22-24 miles per gallon in the city, and 27-32 mpg on the highway. Parking assist sensors, to make sure the moving roof does not hit anything, are optional.

The 2007 Volkswagon Eos will be released in the United States in September, 2006. Current estimated base price is between $29,000 and $33,000. For more information, visit www.volkswagen.com.