Golf Cabriolet cruises into South Africa

The Golf Cabriolet has been launched in South Africa, completing the Volkswagen Golf model range in the country.

In 2011, the Golf was Volkswagen's third best-selling model behind the Polo Vivo and Polo, with 7123 units sold.

Viewed from the front, the cabriolet looks like other Golf models. The cabriolet, however, has a sportier image from this perspective because of its swept-back windscreen. When the Golf Cabriolet can be ordered with optional Bi-Xenon headlights, which have integrated daytime running lights.

The redesigned rear features smoked LED rear lights. The Golf Cabriolet's bootlid extends low into the bumper and it swings far upward when opened, making it easy to stow suitcases or shopping items. A chrome trim strip extends up to the A-pillars.

In side profile, three styling characteristics of the cabriolet are especially appealing to the eye, the swept-back windscreen, the visually short boot and the soft-top integrated in these style lines.

According to VW, the Golf Cabriolet offers the largest interior length in its class, in addition to the 250-litre boot. The soft top itself consists of a linkage, a roofliner, insulating filler layer throughout and exterior cover.

The standard fully-automatic electro-hydraulic top opens in 9.0 seconds and closes in 11.0 seconds. The top is operated from a central switch on the centre console. The roof can open and close while driving at speeds of up to 30km/h. Unlatching and latching of the Golf Cabriolet's soft-top is handled by an electromechanical locking system that operates automatically. The system senses, via two microswitches, whether the roof is completely opened or closed, and it informs the driver of the "OK" status by an acoustic signal and a visual message in the multifunction display.

The Golf Cabriolet's safety is taken care of thanks to a rollover protection system, a re-inforced windscreen frame and numerous other structural modifications (underbody, sidepanels, crossmembers, doors). Due to its numerous reinforcements,the 4.25-metre long, 1.78-metre wide and (top up) 1.42-metre tall Golf Cabriolet also exhibits good torsional rigidity.

The cabriolet has an engine enclosure made of aluminium, which together with its mounting brackets, increases rigidity. On each side, two lateral re-inforcements in the sill area and two diagonal braces, front and rear, as well as the re-inforced rear subframe joint lead to further gains in rigidity and a significant reduction in resonant body vibrations.

The protective systems on the Golf Cabriolet are completed by re-inforcements in the doors and standard front and side head-thorax airbags. The latter are specifically designed for a cabriolet, since it is impossible to mount side-head airbags in the roof area. The head-thorax airbags integrated in the lateral sections of the seatbacks therefore deploy next to the driver andfront passenger over the entire interior height of the Golf Cabriolet.

A standard knee airbag has also been incorporated on the driver's side. In conjunction with the safety belt, this airbag absorbs energy from the pelvic area and the legs, which leads to reduced occupant loading.

The Golf Cabriolet is available with 1.4 TSI engines, either 90kW and 118kW specifications. Both engines are mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard.

The four-cylinder 1.4 TSI engine with 90kW develops its maximum torque of 200Nm between 1500 and 4000rpm. It has a top speed of 197 km/h and sprints from 0-100km/h in 10.5 seconds. This engine can be combined with an optional seven-speed DSG transmission. A combined fuel consumption of 6.4 litres per 100 km for manual and 6.3 litres per 100km for DSG is claimed.

The 118kW engine is boosted by both turbocharging and supercharging. It can also be ordered with an optional seven-speed DSG transmission. The combined fuel consumption is claimed to be identical to the 90kW engine. It develops a maximum torque of 240 Nm between 1500 and 4500rpm, going from 0-100 km/h in 8.4 seconds and topping out at 216 km/h.
 
Golf Cabriolet is offered in nine exterior colours. They are Pure White (base), Dark Purple metallic, Shark Blue metallic, Sunset Red metallic, Reflex Silver metallic, Tungsten Silver metallic, United Grey metallic, Night Blue metallic and pearl effect Deep Black.


Retail Prices (VAT and Emissions Tax included):
1.4 TSI 90kW Manual: R283 400
1.4 TSI 90kW DSG: R297900
1.4 TSI 118kW Manual: R324000
1.4 TSI 118kW DSG: R338 500

The Golf Cabriolet comes standard with a five-year or 90 000km service plan, three-year or 120 000km warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service Intervals are 15 000km.

Source: Quickpic