· The Eos was first launched six years ago, in order to spice up the competition between rivals such as Volvo (C70), Peugeot (307cc), etc. Interestingly enough, the majority of the market went for the latter, with a handful of the market sticking faithfully to the people’s car. Now that Volkswagen had decided to revamp the Eos, we see how they plan to keep the game going.
· Design & Engineering:
Clearly, the Eos has gone under the knife. The face is more chiseled, and portrays a sharper front, thanks to the Phaeton style LED/Bi-Xenon headlamps, Golf-like grill, along with the proper use of chrome. Fitting 17-inch wheels are jammed into the bulging wheel arches; directly above are the new LED signal lights, indented into the wing mirrors. From the side, (with the five-piece hardtop in place) a simple yet classy dome shaped roof begins to form, as it connects with the rear of the car. Disappointingly, the rear is 100% Golf—then again, the Eos takes most of its ‘re-designed goodness’ from one of Volkswagen’s best sellers, the Golf. Before I transition on, I want to tip my hat to the ingenious five-piece, hardtop roof. It has the capabilities to transform the Eos into a coupé with a panoramic sunroof, a convertible in twenty-five seconds, or any other ordinary four seater.
· Interior
An improvement from the 1st generation Eos. As we can see, the interior is not as Spartan as before. For starters, the steering wheel and leather feel good to the touch—considered vitals to me. In fact, the Nappa leather used, supposedly reflects heat when the roof is down. Next, there comes Volkswagen’s RNS 510 touch screen radio navigation system which snuggles comfortably into the middle of the console. A new chrome lever now leads the DSG transmission, along with new climate control switches, and a different coloured backlight for the instrument panel. At the rear, the Eos is a strict four seater, with air-conditioning as standard at the back. Overall, despite top down or up, the Eos’s cabin does a relatively good job of keeping all occupants happy.
· Ride & Handling
The new TSI 1984cc now churns out 210BHP, 10 more than the 1st generation, which enables the Eos to accelerate from 0-->100km/h in a decent 7.8 seconds. In short, it means that when put against rivals, the Eos should be able to strive ahead of the pack, and that less fuel is consumed. Thankfully, when pushing the engine to its limits, the discouraging sound of a strained engine is not present. The six-speed gearbox used, is the same as ones used in the GTI and R models. The chassis and suspension used are firm and ideal for such a convertible. Something odd yet pleasant, is that the Eos’s handling dynamics are far from being sporty, but more so charming and rewarding. For once, I struggle to find something amiss. Nice move VW.
· Verdict
The Eos seems to be targeted for those who enjoy relaxing drives, in cars that still manage to stop traffic. The interior could be more modern. On this lifestyle vehicle, go all out. Definitely one to take home with.
o Pictures from:
o http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TK28QnxmDgI/AAAAAAADZpU/q4J9YdVht-M/s1600/2011-VW-Eos-22.jpg
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