For those who want a topless car that can render passengerettes truly topless, Volkswagen introduces the Golf R Cabriolet. The über-powered R models never were available as a ragtop, no it is. “Tremendous propulsive power” (so the press release) is generated by a 2.0-litre turbo TSI engine that develops 265hp. Maximum torque of 350NM (258 ft lb) is available from a low 2,500 rpm all the way to 5,000 rpm.
The car reaches 100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds. The car’s top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h, but your friendly Volkswagen Partner can probably be talked into talking care of that detail. The 6-speed DSG promises to shift quickly and without any interruptions in power transfer.
Even the soft top is fast: The electro-hydraulic mechanism that opens the roof in 9.0 seconds.
Careful: Like the 2012 Golf Cabriolet, the Golf R Cabriolet is based on the Golf Mk6, not on the new Mk7. Car & Driver was perplexed to learn that the Cabriolet “is based on the current Golf MkVI and arrives curiously late.”
C&D: Since I have known the Golf, and that’s a very long time, the open top version always extended the life-span of the previous generation, so to speak. The first Golf Cabriolet, launched in 1979, based on the Mk1, extended the life of the old generation through 1993. The generation before the current Cabrio was based on the venerable Golf Mk3.In observance of the tradition, the current Golf Cabriolet recycles previous-gen stampings.
The über-powered Golf R Cabriolet will cost 43,325 euros (58,000) in Germany.
Bleah. Yet another VW that I would rather have a Polo than buy.
Looks nice for a Cabrio, I guess. This car is not meant for me.
Ugh, no. For so many reasons.
Namely that it looks awful, should NOT be a convertible (as it’s a fast Golf and sporty/convertible/VW don’t mix), and the price is too high.
I am not a huge convertible fan, but I would definitely much rather have this than the limp noodle EOS we get here in the States. But we will never see it.
FWIW I think it looks good too, surprisingly so given the hatchback body shape it starts with.
GF has an EOS. even though it’s a bit heavy, it is surprisingly fast. i love the sunroof/convertible hardtop thing. but it is complex, electronic, and German, a slightly scary combination.
i like this soft-top cabrio, too. where’s the basket handle? can it really be a VW Cabrio without it? :)
The EOS is fast, sure… until you compare it to a GTI or even a GLI with the same engine. But I do love the old basket handle Cabrios, that was a signature of the car.
GF had an mkIV cabrio before the EOS. anything feels fast compared to that old 2.0 motor. at the time, I had a WRX, and she asked me if her car could have a turbo as well. so when the EOS came out, with a turbo of course, she knew she wanted it. of course it isn’t as fast as the Golfs, but it has more than enough power to be fun to drive. and actually I feel like they really spent some time figuring out how to make it really comfy with the top down, because the only time you really get buffeted around is with all the windows down. top down, windows up, with or without the windscreeen in place, it’s really calm and enjoyable.
the EOS is a Passat variant, not a Golf. I didn’t know that at first, but actually the headlights and taillights are more similar to the Passat than the Golf, too.
that being said, she’d have been just as happy with a cloth-top VW. she just does not like the beetle, and neither do I.
Well sure compared to the old Cabrio the EOS is a rocket! Those things were really really slow! I also did not know it was a Passat variant, that would explain the weight gain over the Golf/Jetta.
This makes alot more sense than either the Eos or the Beetle Convertible. Looks better than both of them put together too!
I like the Beetle convertible,if they could just put a proper drive train in it. Convertibles are so much nicer when the windshield isn’t so raked and long that it feels like you are sitting under a glass canopy. In the Beetle, you are actually sitting under an open sky. I’m still convinced turbo4s were invented by some darned treehugging leftist conspiracy to make the Prius drivetrain seem comparatively attractive. Honda gets similar mileage (at least per EPA) out of their cylinder deactivated V6s (even without direct injection), without making one feel like one is being punished every time one touches the accelerator.
Honda has better engineering.
+1 to that. I drove Hondas for 23 years before buying my 2012 VW GTI. Even though i really love my GTI, it is entirely too complex. Does a 4-cylinder engine really need 3 timing chains? VW needs to borrow Hondas engineering books and learn from them.
3 timing chains? I didnt know that!
I too love my GTI, when I bought it I was choosing between a Civic Si or a GTI. Sometimes I regret it, the Honda would be much less risky as it ages.
Yep, 3 3 timing chains with gears held together with hirth joints. And there is another separate internal engine belt to drive your water pump.
I used to have a 2005 BMW 3-series convertible (w performance package), which is more or less equivalent to this car, at the very least to an American.
While it was nice, I have to admit that I felt the sporting pretensions and the soft top conversion are at odds with each other. The added weight for extra bracing and the inevitable looseness of the chassis work against the sports car feel, but the suspension set up works against the cruiser feel.
I suppose it is all relative, it’s gotta be better than the Eos, but probably not as much as one would hope. Having experienced both, I would say any purpose built convertible is heads and shoulders above any adapted version.
But if you need the extra seats/space though, well, can’t have your cake and eat it too. But I really dislike the looks of this car, too, however.
Nice coastline, though. Is that Greece?
I can’t figure out why this car (Golf Cabrio) and the Eos both exist at the same time.
Various blogs report that the folding hard top EOS is on the way out, but a replacement (not Golf based) may be in the pipeline.
The Eos is indeed on its way out (as are most hardtop convertibles). It’s replacement will be one of two models to choose from: the forthcoming Golf Cabriolet or if you have more expensive tastes, the upcoming A3 Convertible, based on the fothcoming A3 sedan, based on the existing, new MQB architecture.
They won’t exist together here in the U.S.!
That is a good looking car. Looks a lot better than the Eos and probably a better drive too.
My own preference would be the regular 5-door version, but I’ve got to admit the cabrio even looks decent with the top up: http://www.vwvortex.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/golf-r-cabrio-3.jpg
That is a good looking vert. Not as good as the E30 ragtop, though.
Meh! They’ll make a BRZ convertible and everyone will forget about this.
Funny, when I type “topless Golf” into a google image search, I don’t get many pictures of this car…
I’m as puzzled about this as you are. :)