VW Eos 2.0 TFSI Sport: Preview

Very nice article about the VW Eos. And it looks great in red!

Unlike its mainstream competitors, the Eos isn't based on a single existing model, allowing designers to give it a unique look. While it uses a combination of Golf and Passat underpinnings, it's 20cm longer than the firm's compact family hatchback, and more than 3cm wider. The now-familiar VW grille dominates the front end, but smart headlights and Porsche Cayman-style foglamps help distinguish the model from its more practical siblings.

A gently rising waistline and subtly flared wheelarches lend a purposeful stance, while the clean lines of the rear end make for handsome viewing from most angles, especially with the roof down. And dropping the hard-top couldn't be simpler, thanks to the slick, fully automated mechanism, which takes only 25 seconds to open or close.

Rather than bill its newcomer as a CC-style car, Volkswagen describes it as a CSC. That stands for Convertible, Sliding and Coupé, and it's the middle attribute that sets this model apart.

Not only does it offer open-top and coupé motoring, but the front half of the centre section also slides back to form a huge sunroof with the hood in place. In common with traditional CC models, though, boot space is compromised, dropping from 380 litres in the hatchback to only 205 here.