VW Eos

[julie at menloparkrandd.com (julie@menloparkrandd.com)]

I LIKE! <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/automobiles/autoreviews/08VOLKS.html>

Greek mythology, Eos was the supernaturally beautiful goddess of the dawn, the brightest star in the morning sky. She was also a bit of a tramp, and had many lovers. Chart: 4-Seat Retractable Hardtop Convertibles

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This is the type of desirable foreign exotic that, for whatever mysterious reason, seldom finds its way across the Atlantic. 



In choosing Eos as the name for its shapely new coupe-cabriolet, Volkswagen was no doubt alluding to how the car?s retracting hardtop heralds the sun. VW is also hoping this enticing car seduces a lot of lovers ? at least 12,000 a year.
The Eos 2.0T test car certainly caught my eye with its sinuous, voluptuous lines; its sultry, deep Red Pepper paint; and its supple, embracing Corn Silk Beige leather seats. But the thing that said, ?Marry me!? was its window sticker: $30,620 nicely equipped. That?s roughly the same price as the far less appealing Pontiac G6 convertible, and about $17,000 less than a full-zoot Volvo C70.
After so many years of doing so many things so wrong ? especially in its seeming disdain for and neglect of the American market ? Volkswagen at long last shows signs that it is finding its way. With the recent introduction of a frisky new Rabbit, an energetic GTI, a redesigned Passat and the clever Eos ? not to mention rumored, potentially more alluring models like a Scirocco sport coupe ? VW seems serious again about selling cars to Americans. That has to be bad news for the charisma-challenged automakers based in Detroit.