What Is It?
2007 Volkswagen Eos
What's Special About It?
Eos sounds like one of those car names made up in some drawn-out meeting where everybody just wanted to leave. Volkswagen is claiming otherwise and pulling out the mythology card to explain it. Seems Eos was the goddess of the sunrise, making her the perfect namesake for a new convertible. If the mythological connection wasn't obvious, CEO Wolfgand Bernhard emphasized the point by driving the new hardtop cabriolet onto to the stage through a field of transplanted sunflowers.
OK, Volkswagen, we get it, it's a convertible.
Volkswagen's enthusiasm is understandable as the Eos is not your average ragtop. Its five-piece hardtop not only folds away completely into the trunk in just 25 seconds, its glass panels let the sun shine in even when the top is up. The exterior design is almost unchanged from the concept car that debuted a year and a half ago with a new front-end design similar to the latest Passat.
Although it's about 10 inches shorter than a Mercedes CLK convertible, the Eos is 2 inches taller and 2 inches wider giving the interior a reasonably spacious feel. Some of the switchgear will look familiar to Passat owners, but the dash, door panels and rear-seat section are exclusive to the Eos. Volkswagen's engineers were anxious to point out that both its climate control system and the high-performance audio system automatically adjust their levels depending on whether the top is up or down.
The designers chimed in, too, boasting that no antennas are visible regardless of your chosen combination of audio and navigation systems. Some other manufacturers could learn a lesson here.
Standard safety features include a rollover protection system, stability control and four airbags, two of which pop up and across each side to provide head-impact protection for the driver and front passenger.
European customers will get a range of four gas engines and one diesel power plant while U.S. customers will have to choose between a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 200-hp or a 250-hp, 3.2-liter V6. All V6 models will use a six-speed DSG automatic to send power to the front wheels while 2.0-liter models will have the option of a six-speed manual to do the same. Volkswagen claims a 0-to-60 time of 7.3 seconds for the 3.2-liter model.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Positioned between the Golf and the Passat in Volkswagen's lineup, the Eos will sticker for around $25-$30K when it goes on sale next summer. It faces a newly redesigned Volvo C70 hardtop as well as the Toyota Camry Solara and Chrysler Sebring. We're guessing Volkswagen isn't too worried. — Ed Hellwig.
2007 Volkswagen Eos
What's Special About It?
Eos sounds like one of those car names made up in some drawn-out meeting where everybody just wanted to leave. Volkswagen is claiming otherwise and pulling out the mythology card to explain it. Seems Eos was the goddess of the sunrise, making her the perfect namesake for a new convertible. If the mythological connection wasn't obvious, CEO Wolfgand Bernhard emphasized the point by driving the new hardtop cabriolet onto to the stage through a field of transplanted sunflowers.
OK, Volkswagen, we get it, it's a convertible.
Volkswagen's enthusiasm is understandable as the Eos is not your average ragtop. Its five-piece hardtop not only folds away completely into the trunk in just 25 seconds, its glass panels let the sun shine in even when the top is up. The exterior design is almost unchanged from the concept car that debuted a year and a half ago with a new front-end design similar to the latest Passat.
Although it's about 10 inches shorter than a Mercedes CLK convertible, the Eos is 2 inches taller and 2 inches wider giving the interior a reasonably spacious feel. Some of the switchgear will look familiar to Passat owners, but the dash, door panels and rear-seat section are exclusive to the Eos. Volkswagen's engineers were anxious to point out that both its climate control system and the high-performance audio system automatically adjust their levels depending on whether the top is up or down.
The designers chimed in, too, boasting that no antennas are visible regardless of your chosen combination of audio and navigation systems. Some other manufacturers could learn a lesson here.
Standard safety features include a rollover protection system, stability control and four airbags, two of which pop up and across each side to provide head-impact protection for the driver and front passenger.
European customers will get a range of four gas engines and one diesel power plant while U.S. customers will have to choose between a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 200-hp or a 250-hp, 3.2-liter V6. All V6 models will use a six-speed DSG automatic to send power to the front wheels while 2.0-liter models will have the option of a six-speed manual to do the same. Volkswagen claims a 0-to-60 time of 7.3 seconds for the 3.2-liter model.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Positioned between the Golf and the Passat in Volkswagen's lineup, the Eos will sticker for around $25-$30K when it goes on sale next summer. It faces a newly redesigned Volvo C70 hardtop as well as the Toyota Camry Solara and Chrysler Sebring. We're guessing Volkswagen isn't too worried. — Ed Hellwig.
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