New Golf Ragtop: Closed To Open In 9.5 Sec
A breeze of fresh air for Volkswagen’s program: The Wolfsburg company shows a new Golf Cabriolet convertible at the Geneva Motor Show. No stop and squeeze your fingers while folding the roof in this one. The Golf has an electro-hydraulic drive that takes down the Golf’s top in a 9.5 seconds flash. If you attempt any motorized folderol at speeds above 30 km/h (19 mp/h), the roof will refuse. It would turn into a giant air brake otherwise.
Safety-wise, the ragtop sports an automatically deploying roll-over bar, in addition to a rich complement of airbags that will bubble-wrap your body in case of an accident.
The European customer has the usual dizzying choice of engines. There are six turbocharged direct-injection engines, ranging from 105 hp to 210 hp. Four of the TSI gasoline engines (TSI) and one TDI diesel are available with the DSG dual-clutch gearbox. Three of the engines are available with energy-saving BlueMotion Technology. Motorized with the 1.6 TDI 105 hp engine with BlueMotion Technology, the open air Golf will demand only 4.4 liters for 100 km (53.45 mpg –non EPA).
The car goes on air tomorrow in Germany, at prices starting at 23,625 Euros ($32,404 – belay your comments, try to pay with Big Macs next time you change money.) Volkswagen’s PR department is so giddy about the topless car that they dare a rare attempt at humor in their press release:
“Essentially, all of the features offered in the classic, hard top Golf are also available in the new Golf Cabriolet. The only feature that will definitely not be offered is a sunroof …”
Very funny.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Judging by recent VW residuals, it will lease for about the same as a 128 vert. Which comes with a stiffish body, rear wheel drive and the worlds most wonderful engine. For those buying, the VW might make more sense, though.