Cars Service

2007 Volkswagen Eos Preview

The Eos will be available in the U.S. with a 200-hp 2.0-liter turbo four and a 250-hp 3.2-liter V6, with only the 2.0-liter to be available upon its March arrival and the 3.2-liter becoming available sometime thereafter. The four-seater also comes with a full complement of standard equipment: stability control, front and front side air bags, sport seats, and sixteen-inch alloy wheels on the four-cylinder models (V-6 versions get seventeens). Pop-up roll bars are also fitted.



What’s inside

Inside the 2007 Eos, Volkswagen’s traditionally rich materials decorate the cabin. Black is the primary décor color, but contrasting leather seats and door panel inserts, combined with silver trim accents, brighten the interior. The glass roof also helps to lighten what could be a dour driving environment.

The powertrain options that reside under that Golf-like hood are a different story, with a full five different engines available to those abroad, including four that are gasoline-powered, ranging from 115 horsepower all the way up to 250 horsepower, plus a turbodiesel producing 140 horsepower and promising excellent economy from this already sensible drop-top. In North America we make do with only two engine options, a 200 horsepower 2.0L direct-injected four-cylinder and an even more impressive 250 horsepower direct-injected variant of VWs successful VR6 engine that also comes backed by the very tasty dual-clutch DSG F1-style sequential manual gearbox with paddle-shifters thats also optional on the 2.0L unit.

That turbocharged four-cylinder is said to lack the power required by the relatively heavy Eos, and as such performance reportedly suffers with the lesser of the North American models, taking an agonizing 9.7 seconds to reach 60 mph. The 3.2L V6 variant with its cool sequential manual gearbox improves on that figure substantially, knocking more than two seconds off of the previous time; completing the sprint in a more respectable 7.2 seconds. The Eos, mind you, was never intended to be a backroad burner, instead content to coddle its occupants along miles and miles of pavement with just enough power and performance to satisfy during those instances where its required.

With that in mind, it makes sense that the Eos would have such an uncluttered, comfortable interior. Possessing the same clean look as the rest of the Volkswagen lineup, the Eos dashboard is one long expanse of seemingly high quality black plastic, with a singular piece of aluminum trim separating the upper and lower portions. The center display descends from the upper portion, appearing to lay over top of the lower dash and its strip of aluminum, putting the radio and climate control interfaces right where they should be.

Outlook

The 2007 Volkswagen Eoss odd looks will probably keep it from having the success of the New Beetle, but looks aside, the Eos offers a lot of practicality and some real tech niceties. The hardtop protects the car in harsh weather and can quickly become a fun-in-the-sun machine. The V-6 combined with the DSG gearbox is a great combination, and we usually dont see tech, such as navigation and cornering headlights, even offered in this segment.

The steering wheel is typical VW, with only a few ancillary controls scattered on the spokes. Interestingly, while these first photos seem to show a relatively low-end interior, the accompanying press release cites new wood and aluminum trim that should brighten it up, however, in order to move upscale youll have to buy the VR6 powered version.

Key specifications

ngine Size and Type: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (2.0T); 3.2-liter V6 (3.2)
Engine Horsepower: 200 (2.0T); 250 (3.2)
Length: 173.6 inches
Width: 70.5 inches
Height: 56.8 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Five
Max. Cargo Volume: 13.4 cubic feet (7.2 with top dropped)
Competitors: Chrysler Sebring Convertible, Ford Mustang Convertible, Jeep Wrangler, Mini Cooper Convertible, Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, Pontiac G6 Convertible, Toyota Camry Solara Convertible