27 May 08 13:55
Golf Cabrio, 1994-2002
Volkswagen is to revive the Golf Cabriolet.
The drop-top Golf is tipped to return in 2010, complete with a traditional fabric folding roof. it will be built in-house by Volkswagen, rather than at the Karmann facility responsible for earlier Golf cabrios.
The Golf Cabriolet - based first on the Mk1 Golf and then the Mk3, with few updates - was discontinued in 2002. Volkswagen by then had launched the Beetle Cabriolet, and the Eos was under development. However, the larger Eos, with its folding metal hard-top, is considerably more expensive than the old Golf cabrio, and this will be repositioned as a Passat Convertible once the new Golf drop-top arrives.
The Golf cabrio will be structurally very similar to the recently-launched Audi A3 Cabriolet, with a neatly-folding powered roof. An automatic wind deflector and neck-level heating will also feature.
Engines on offer are thought to be the 1.4 TSI (in 120bhp and 150bhp formats), 2.0 TFSI (200bhp), 1.6 TDI (105bhp) and 2.0 TDI (140bhp and 170bhp), with options including the DSG clutchless gearbox, keyless ignition, adaptive dampers and xenon directional headlights. Prices will start around the £20,000 mark.
