Already a hit on the market, the Volkswagen Eos with be offered for the 2010 model year in two trim levels: Komfort or Lux, with prices ranging from $31,990 to $35,490.

The 2010 Eos is powered by a 2.0 TSI engine that delivers a total of 200hp and a peak torque of 206 lbs-ft. The engine is mated to a standard 6-speed manual transmission, or an optional 6-speed automatic transmission w/ tiptronic one.

A pretty impressive feature for the Eos is that it only takes 25 seconds for the hardtop convertible to be completely and automatically lowered. In either manual or automatic version the car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 7,4 seconds, while top speed is limited to 130 mph.

Full details after the jump.

2010 Volkswagen Eos

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2010 Volkswagen Eos
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Press release

Offered in Komfort or Lux trim levels, the 2010 Eos’ pioneering CSC™ (coupesunroof-convertible) capability makes it the chameleon of the marketplace. A sliding glass roof, with automatic pinch protection, is incorporated into the retractable hardtop, which can be opened to let in as much light and fresh air as desired. With the push of a button, it can literally be a two-door four-seater with sunroof; open air two-by-two; or simply a coupe (with the shade pulled over head) that comfortably seats four.

The sophisticated roof movement is accomplished via a switch in the center console that activates eight hydraulic cylinders with mechanical linkages. In just 25 seconds, the hardtop convertible is completely and automatically lowered. To raise the roof, another click of the roof switch quickly raises the solid panels to create the protected, quiet interior environment found in traditional coupes. The front roof panels, including the glass sunroof, slide under the forward roof panels as the entire roof area rises from the C-pillar to what would be a B-pillar and is stored beneath a rear deck.

The panoramic, tinted glass power sunroof is integrated into the folding roof of the Volkswagen Eos – “sandwiched” between roof panels as the hardtop is lowered. An available Trunk Lid Assistance program with integrated bumper sensors monitors up to 20 inches behind the vehicle and prevents the roof from operating if any object or obstruction is detected. Preserving the luggage area is a cargo cover that must be in place and latched for the roof-lowering actuation to be completed.

Also, just to be safe, the vehicle ignition must be “on” and vehicle speed must remain below 0.6-mph during roof operation. A status indicator provides warnings if the roof is not secured – either up or down.

To make top-down driving even more enjoyable, a pop-up, mesh-fence wind deflector is standard for the front windshield frame of the 2010 Eos. A removable windblocker also can be set up behind the front seats to reduce wind buffeting and increase top-down comfort.

Exterior


While the Eos is a two-door coupe, it gives the driver and passengers the feeling and comfort of being in a much larger convertible. At 173.5-inches long overall with a wheelbase of 101.5-inches, width of 70.5- inches, and height of 56.8-inches, the dimensions of the Eos enhance vehicle dynamics. A large track width not only looks good, it helps create extraordinary agility and safe handling characteristics exhibited by the Eos.

Standard power folding exterior rearview mirrors are heated and incorporate LED side blinkers and brake lights. The driver side mirror is self-dimming to help prevent temporary “blinding” from following automobiles.

Interior


The 2010 Eos 2.0T offers a respectable 10.5-cubic feet of cargo space with the roof closed, and 6.6-cubic feet with the roof retracted. A lockable, rear seat pass-through allows for transporting some long or bulky items, such as skis.

Inside, the Eos offers an inviting interior -- the dash includes Volkswagen’s tastefully executed center console, and the side areas are spread out like wings to the left and right. The centerstack holds exclusively designed air vent apertures bordered in chrome. Interior trim is available with genuine walnut wood, full brushed aluminum and metallic-look synthetic interior trim.

The Eos interior can be configured in three colors, with darker colors dominating the upper areas to ensure a low-gloss, non-reflective environment behind the windshield. All plastics used in the lower area of the dash are coated with soft-effect paint.

Chassis and Suspension


For optimal ride comfort and control, Volkswagen designed the Eos with a sophisticated front McPherson strut with triangular wishbones and self-leveling shock absorbers. In the rear is a fully independent, four-link suspension. Stabilizer bars front and rear add to roll control and reduce lateral drift. The rear axle is decoupled from the Eos’ body, ensuring a noise-reduced rear occupant environment that’s isolated from the activity taking place beneath.

Power-assisted front vented disc brakes (312-mm in diameter) and rear solid disc brakes (280-mm) are standard. A brake wear indicator – a distinctive Volkswagen feature applied on many models -- gives owners a tip when it is time for new pads and is standard. Electromechanical power steering ensures the correct level of assist is always provided, whether it by on the highway or in a parking lot. A turning circle of 35.8 feet ensures maneuverability in the tightest of circumstances, an optional Park Distance Control System supplements the Eos’ “tight spaces” capability, and a steering ratio of 35.8 ft. delivers the responsiveness and on-center feel – on switchbacks or the highway -- expected of a Volkswagen.

Engine and Transmission


Beneath the Eos’ bonnet is a sophisticated, 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is both efficient and sporty, and all Volkswagen. The standard powerplant uses a turbocharger and an intercooler for cool, higher-density intake air -- high-end breathing is further enhanced by four valves per cylinder with variable valve timing and a compression ratio of 10.3:1. An advanced direct-injection delivery system ensures optimum fuel consumption without sacrificing performance, and drive-by-wire throttle control ensures responsiveness and feedback the moment the accelerator is depressed.Between 5100 and 6000 rpm, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 200 horsepower. Torque peaks out at 207 lbs.-ft. between 1800 and 5000 rpm. With either the standard six-speed manual or progressive DSG® six speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic®, zero-to-60 miles per hour is achieved in a very efficient 7.4 seconds with an electronically governed top speed of 130-mph.

Both transmissions are optimally geared, with the manual’s final drive ratio at 3.94, and the automatic’s at 4.06. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 21 miles per gallon on the highway, and 23-mpg in city driving with the manual; with the automatic the correlating numbers improve to 21 city/30 hwy.

Like the 2.0T FSI engine and CSC transformability, the dual-clutch DSG transmission is but one of the Eos’ technical highlights and utilizes direct shifting – a VW-family exclusive innovation -- that automatically engages and disengages gears without the need for a clutch pedal. Instead, a computer engages one clutch on the next gear needed, just as it releases the other clutch from the previous gear. The shifts are seamless and happen without the power loss associated with a traditional, clutched shift. The DSG transmission gives drivers a choice of fully-automatic operation, with no further driver involvement necessary beyond selecting “D.” The advanced transmission also offers automated manual shifting for drivers who prefer to be more involved in the gear-change process. The DSG with Volkswagen Tiptronic® lets drivers shift gears up and down with a tap of the gearshift selector or finger-operated shiftpaddles mounted to the steering wheel.

Active and Passive Safety


Like all Volkswagens, the Eos includes the Prevent and Preserve Safety System, consisting of more than 45 safety features. As standard safety equipment, the Eos includes – but is not limited to -- six airbags (dual front; dual front side thorax combined with side curtains); rear-impact optimized front head restraints; front seatbelt pretension with load limiters for front and rear occupants; and three-point safety belts in all four seating positions with (two front, two rear) with emergency locking retractors. The Eos also carries an automatic Rollover Protection System where elements (roll bars) are extended -- via spring tension -- behind the rear head restraints in front, side, rear collision and rollover events.

Eos, like all 2010 Volkswagens, comes standard equipped with the Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP). This is important because the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that ESC results in 35 percent fewer single-vehicle crashes and 30 percent fewer single-vehicle fatalities in passenger cars. Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to provide an electronic stability control system on their entire product line as standard equipment – ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) deadline requiring vehicles in the 2012 model year to include stability control systems. ESP compares the driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual direction; if ESP detects a discrepancy, ESP automatically brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed in certain driving circumstances to help maintain directional control.

-----

Specifications

ENGINE

  • Type Inline four-cylinder spark-ignition engine with fuel straight injection, exhaust turbocharger with intercooler, four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts (DOHC)
  • Bore 3.25 in. 82.5 mm
  • Stroke 3.65 in. 92.8 mm
  • Displacement 121 cu. in. 1,984 ccm
  • Compression Ratio 10.3:1
  • Horsepower (SAE) @ rpm 200 (147 kW) @ 5,100 - 6000 rpm
  • Maximum torque, lbs - ft @ rpm 207 (280 Nm) @ 1800-5000 rpm
  • Fuel Requirement Premium Fuel recommended
  • Firing Order 1-3-4-2
  • Engine Management / Ignition System Fully electronic engine management with drive-by-wire throttle control, direct injection, adaptive lambda control; mapped ignition with cylinder selective ignition coil, cylinder-selective adaptive knock control


ENGINE DESIGN

  • Arrangement Front mounted, transversal
  • Cylinder Block Cast iron
  • Crank Shaft Forged steel, five main bearings
  • Cylinder Head Aluminum alloy
  • Valve Train DOHC, belt driven, hydraulic lifters
  • Cooling System Water-cooled, thermostatically controlled radiator fan
  • Lubrication Gear pump, pressurized, full flow with oil cooler
  • Fuel / Air Supply Fuel Straight Injection (FSI) into cylinders, turbo charger/intercooler
  • Emissions Under bonnet ceramic precatalyst with catalyst heating function via homogenous split dual injection. Bin 8 California Emissions Concept. Bin 8 EPA Federal Emissions concept


ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  • Alternator - V/A 14 volts 140 Ah
  • Battery - V/Ah 12 volts 72 Ah


DRIVE TRAIN

  • Transmission Manual: 6-speed
  • Automatic: DSG 6-speed with Tiptronic®
  • Drive train Front wheel drive
  • Transmission Gear Ratios:
  • 1st 3.36 3.46
  • 2nd 2.09 2.05
  • 3rd 1.47 1.30
  • 4th 1.10 0.90
  • 5th 1.11 0.91
  • 6th 0.93 0.76
  • Reverse 3.99 3.99
  • Final 3.94 / 3.09 4.06/3.14

CAPACITIES

  • Engine Oil (with filter) 4.9 qt 4.6 L
  • Fuel Tank 14.5 gal 55 L
  • Cooling System 7.6 qt 7.2 L
  • Wiper Fluid 3.2 qt 3.0 L

STEERING

  • Type Electromechanical power steering, dual-pinion, speed-dependent power
  • assistance
  • Turning Circle (curb to curb) 35.8 ft 10.9 m


BODY, CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION

  • Type Unitized construction, bolt-on fenders, fully galvanized
  • Front Suspension McPherson concept with triangular wishbones, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
  • Rear Suspension Four-link independent rear suspension with telescopic shock absorber arrangement, weight optimized anti-roll bar. Axle acoustically decoupled from body.
  • Service Brakes Power assisted front vented disc brakes. Rear solid disc brakes.
  • Front, size 12.3 in. 312 mm
  • Rear, size 11 in. 280 mm
  • Anti-Lock Braking System TRW EBC 440, with Electronic Stabilization Program with Brake Assist all four wheels
  • Parking Brake Activated by handbrake handle, effective on rear wheels


Wheels/Tires

  • 7J X 16'' alloy wheels
  • 215/55 R16 97H, all season tires
  • 7 1/2J X 17'' alloy wheel "Sienna"
  • 235/45 R17 H, all season tires
  • 7 1/2J X 18'' alloy wheel "Veracruz"
  • 235/40 R18 H, all season tires
  • Drag Coefficient (Coupe) 0.315


DIMENSIONS

  • Wheelbase 101.5 in 2,578 mm
  • Front Track 60.8 in 1,545 mm
  • Rear Track 61.1 in 1,553 mm
  • Length 173.5 in 4,410 mm
  • Width 70.5 in 1,791 mm
  • Height (Coupe) 56.8 in 1,443 mm
  • Ground Clearance 5.5 in 141 mm


PERFORMANCE

  • 0-60 mph 7.4 seconds
  • Top Speed 130 mph (estimated)

-----

Prices

Model Code

Trim description

Price

1F73W2

2.0T Komfort — 6-speed Manual

$31,990

1F73W3

2.0T Komfort — 6-speed DSG Auto. w/ Tiptronic

$33,090

1F79W3

2.0T Lux — 6-speed DSG Auto. w/ Tiptronic

$35,490


Komfort includes: 200hp / 206 lbs-ft, 2.0 TSI engine, adjustable intermittent wipers, Climatronic air-conditioning system w/ dual-zone climate control, AUX in, compass, cruise control, front and rear floor mats, Microtech Anthracite interior trim, V-Tex interior seat trim, leather wrapped steering wheel, shift knob, and brake handle, power steering, rear seat pass-through to trunk, 12-way power adjustable driver seat, 8-way manual adjustable comfort passenger seat, heatable front seats, skibag w/ windblocker preparation, Premium 8 sound system w/ 6 month’s complimentary satellite radio, MP3 capabilities, in-dash 6 CD changer, Bluetooth® connectivity, 8 speakers, multi-function steering wheel, trip computer, windblocker, 16” Adelaide alloy wheels w/ 215/55 R16 allseason tires, daytime running lights, fog lights, power/heated exterior mirrors, fully-automatic, power retracting hard-top, 4-link fully independent rear suspension, panoramic sunroof tilt/slide, heated washer nozzles, dual front airbags, ESP, ABS, ASR, EDL, EDTC, Brake Assist, LATCH, seatbelt tensioners, automatic rollover protection system, TPMS

Lux addes: 6-speed automatic transmission w/ tiptronic, Burled Walnut wood interior trim, selfdimming interior mirror, partial leather seat covering, power “Easy Entry” driver and passenger front seats, 3-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, chrome grill, power folding, heatable ext. mirrors, 17” Sienna alloy wheels w/ 235/45

Trim

Option Code

Option Description

Retail Price

All

UF8

iPod® Prep — Located in front center armrest

$199

PVH

Navigation Infotainment Package — RNS midline navigation system, integrated radio system

$1,990

PXD

Technology Package — Bi-Xenon headlights w/ AFS, Park Distance Control

$1,100

Komfort Only

PLE

Alloy Wheel Package — 17” LeMans alloy wheels w/ all-season tires

$450

Lux Only

PLF

Alloy Wheel Package — 18” Veracruz alloy wheels w/ all-season tires, front and rear sport suspension

$800

9VE

Dynaudio Premium Sound Only Available with PVH

$1,000


Market delivery option

Option Code

Option Description

Retail Price

EMM

Eos All-Season Mats — Rubber Mats (set of 4)

$125

ESG

Splash Guards (set of 4)

$185

LeMans 17x7.5" alloy wheels

$450

Akiros 17x7.5" alloy wheels

$1,320

Velos 18x8" Silver alloy wheels

$1,320

Velos 18x8" Titanium wheels

$1,320

Chrome rear accent strip

$70

MDI for iPod cable

$199

DVD Navigation System

$1,990

Plastic trunk liner carbox

$105


-----

Competitors and press reviews

"Nothing can change the laws of physics, so an open-top Eos does exhibit some dashboard wobble and door-frame flex. However, these convertible characteristics are so minimal as to be nearly undetectable under most conditions. When the rigid top and all its buttresses are in place, the car feels and sounds like a proper coupe. Top-up sightlines are better than in a softtop convertible because the rear window is full-size. The car's structure is built to withstand a worst-case open-air rollover with an exceptionally strong A-pillar and pop-up rollbars behind the fixed rear headrest. Stability and traction control are standard." (MotorTrend)

"Our test chariot had the optional sport package, which provided more of a cosmetic sportiness than real sports-car sport — leather seats and 17-inch alloy wheels, and only slight suspension changes. Which makes sense. The Eos is meant to be sporty, but it's not meant to be a sports car. The ride is soft, and its long-wearing Michelins prioritize a smooth, quiet ride over ultimate road-holding. Still, the Eos showed good balance in our handling tests, holding its own at 0.83g on the skid pad and skipping through our 600-foot slalom course at 65.1 mph. Pretty impressive for a non-sports car." (InsideLine)

"Although we prefer the standard-equipment six-speed manual gearbox, the test car had the automatic DSG six-speed. Steering-wheel shift paddles at three and nine are optional. The test car responded quickly to manumatic gear-lever flicks. At the same time, it's a weird automatic, inclined to be snatchy at launch. And it lets the car roll easily when you're stopped on an incline and take your foot off the brake. We understand that it's a manual gearbox with a pair of disc clutches, and that it is being driven by a computer, so we make allowances. You might think it's just a snatchy automatic." (CanAndDriver).

Competitors

Volvo C70

For the US market the new Volvo C70 will be offered with a powerful 227 hp turbocharged five-cylinder engine that’s mated to a standard five-speed automatic transmission with driver selectable Geartronic shifting. The 2011 Volvo C70 is offered at a starting price of just $39,950.

Toyota Camry Solara->ke246

The Solara Convertivle is only offered in SLE trim, featuring a 3.3-liter V6 engine with a total output of 210 hp at 5,600 RPM and 220 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 RPM. The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The car is priced at $30,710.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder->ke251

The 2010 Eclipse Spyder is offered in two trim levels. The GS model is powered by a 162-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine teamed with a 4-speed automatic transmission, and the Eclipse Spyder GT challenges more expensive sports cars with its 265-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine teamed with a 5-speed automatic.The GS version is priced at $27,799 and the GT one at $32,599.

Conclusion

If you want a sporty car (not a sports car remember), then the Volkswagen Eos is the right one for you! Is not an ordinary Volkswagen, so you will still have your chance to see people turning head when you pass by, and for $40k you can have it fully equipped.

It only takes 25 seconds to transform it from a coupe into a convertible, and once you had you can enjoy your ride. And when you say "enjoy" we really mean it: the ride will be smooth and quite.

Where is one thing you might not like about the 2010 Eos though: the rear seats do not offer enough room for adults, but while you are behind the wheel enjoying the high-quality cockpit furnishings who cares, no?