Volkswagen is getting ready to unveil the most powerful production Golf Cabriolet ever at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show next week, but until that happens here are the initial photos and details that the German automaker has released.
The car combines the performance and practicality of the GTI hatch with the pleasure of open air driving as it features an electrically powered roof which take 9.5 seconds to fold even on the move at speeds of up to 18 mph.
The engine that powers the Golf GTI Cabriolet is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder unit found in the hatchback, which means we are talking about 210 PS and 206 lb-ft (280 Nm) of peak torque from 1,700 rpm to 5,300 being sent to the wheels via a 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission.
Unlike the hatch version which accelerates from 0 to 100 Km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet is 0.4 seconds slower to get to 100 Km/h from a stand still, while its top speed is 147 mph (236 Km/h), or 146 mph for the DSG equipped model.
In terms of design the Cabriolet has all the classic GTI design cues, plus the car comes with a standard EDS electronic differential
lock and XDS transverse differential lock as well as rollover protection.
Sales for the Golf GTI Cabriolet will begin during the second half of 2012, with prices expected to be announced as we get closer to that date.
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