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The Eos is versatile enough to let you decide whether you wanted to be seen in a sports cabriolet or a classic coup. Srinivasan Iyer test drives

I often get the feeling that I'm being watched. It's not in a Big Brother kind of way but more often when I'm walking on the streets or when I'm in a mall. "Did you see that? I don't know why that man was staring at me?" I ask my wife. And here's her standard reply: "No one's staring. It's just a figment of your imagination. And even if they are, it's because they are jealous that you have such a beautiful wife." That may well be true.

The other day I was with this beautiful Greek goddess, Eos. I'm not kidding. And believe me people were gawking. And like my wife keeps telling me, they were not staring at me but at my beautiful set of wheels. For once, I liked the attention.

Before you start wondering, the Eos is Volkswagen's four-seat, two-door convertible. Its retractable hardtop design combines the open-air experience of a traditional ragtop with the security and all-season comfort of a coupe's fixed roof.

And coming back to the Greek goddess allusion, Eos was the goddess of dawn and wind, and is an appropriate name for this smart-looking convertible. Though it is the spiritual successor to the Cabriolet, the Volkswagen Eos eschews its predecessor's feminine image in favour of more upscale and sophisticated style, substance and capabilities. While once the exclusive arena of high-end luxury cars, the availability of a retractable hardtop has trickled down to convertible models that are more in line with what most drop-top shoppers can afford. With the ability to keep errant weather and noise out, retractable hardtops are all the rage.


The Eos that we tested was equipped with a 2.0-litre FSI in-line turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 200hp and 207lbft of torque mated to a six-speed tiptronic direct shift gearbox. The acceleration is impressive and the car simply takes off leaving rest of the traffic behind in a blur. FSI is an innovative direct injection technology by which fuel is injected under high pressure directly into the combustion chamber. This results in very dynamic development of power and exceptional economy. The brakes are equally impressive and the antilock disc brakes bring the car to a halt without too much fuss.


Of course, the highlight of the Eos is its retractable hardtop. Webasto, a company that has engineered many convertible tops for a variety of automakers over the years, has designed the roof system. VW calls it the CSC (coupe-sunroof-convertible) and it employs a unique five-panel roof that transforms the coupe's hardtop into an open-air convertible in just 25 seconds at the click of a button.

The VW's clever folding metal and glass roof also incorporates a sliding glass sunroof that makes the Eos unique, even among hardtop convertibles. This means that even with the top up, you can still get a bit of fresh air by opening the sunroof. This gives VW a competitive advantage in what is becoming almost a crowded market. Since a retractable hardtop is still a relative novelty, you are sure to attract attention, like I did, when you hit the button that sets in motion the precise German engineering.

According to Volkswagen, stowing the roof reduces the trunk space to 205 litres and is sufficiently roomy at 380 litres when the roof is deployed. The trunk lid assistance programme integrated with the parking sensors monitors up to 20 inches behind the car and prevents the roof from operating if any object or obstruction is detected.

The Volkswagen Eos' interiors match its exteriors when it comes to occupant comfort and amenities. The Eos is fitted with leather seats, xenon headlights with cornering function, climatronic air-conditioning, RCD 500 radio system with a six-CD changer and ten speakers, iPod adapter, electric windows, alloy wheels and parking sensors and 16-inch Catalunya alloy wheels. Entry and exit from the cabin is easy. The driving position is excellent, with plenty of adjustment and decent all-round vision with the roof raised. Also, the legroom in the rear seat is amply sufficient and tall people do not necessarily have to fold up to be seated comfortably. The Eos also has its safety act together, as the steel A-pillars are tied directly to the floor panel's stout frame rails. A rollover bar deploys behind the rear seats in just 0.25 second if things go bad, while both front- and rear-seat passengers also get curtain-type air bags for head protection. However, when braking on hard on slippery road surfaces, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) maintains the best possible steerability. The electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) with a brake assist system plus dual-rate function helps to relieve dangerous situations within a fraction of a second.
To sum it up, VW has a very attractive product that meets the key demands of any convertible buyer – looking good top-up or top-down. But in my opinion anyone who buys the Eos simply for its power characteristics and handling will be equally happy.


Technical data
Dimensions
Length: 4407mm
Width: 1791mm
Height: 1437mm
Wheelbase: 2578mm
Min Ground Clearance: 188mm

Engine
Type: 2,000cc FSI engine in-line
4 cylinder with turbo
Layout: In-line
Max Power: 147hp
Torque: 28.6kg/m
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres

Transmission
6-speed Tiptronic Direct Shift Gearbox

Suspension
Front: 3-point wishbones
Rear : 4-link axle with independent suspension

brakes
front and rear: Ventilated disc

How much?RO13,500 onwards available at Wattayah Motors Tel 24562729