EOS Highway 1 concept debuts at Pebble Beach

Volkswagen is debuting the Eos Highway 1 design study at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this weekend. It will be showcased on the Concept Lawn in front of the Lodge at Pebble Beach, an ideal setting to emphasize Eos Highway 1’s seductive blend of elegance and sporty dynamics. The production Eos 3.2 L, with standard DSG, goes on sale October 2, 2006 at US$36,850.

“The Eos Highway 1 was imagined as the perfect vehicle for the car enthusiast’s driving lifestyle,” said Derek Jenkins, Chief Designer at Volkswagen’s Santa Monica, California Design Center. “The ease of transforming the Eos from coupe to convertible not only makes it enjoyable for all kinds of weather, it’s like having two cars in one, both a comfortable cruiser and a performance coupe. We wanted to reflect that dual nature in the modifications we made in the creation of the design study. The special leather upholstery and piano black lacquer trim are key components of the luxurious interior, but the 20-inch wheel and tire package, lowered suspension, thick flat-bottom sport steering wheel and rear lip spoiler all communicate a different aspect of the car’s character—performance, the kind that lets a driver really enjoy the challenges of roads like Highway 1.”

Eos Highway 1 sits about an inch lower than the stock version due to a coil-over suspension system from H&R Special Springs, a manufacturer of high-quality suspension components. In addition to the more aggressive stance, this setup delivers tauter, performance-oriented handling. Jenkins wanted to strengthen the concept car’s sportier stance, and fitted 20 x 8-inch Mille Miglia multi-spoke alloys and then wrapped them in low and wide 245/30 Continental performance tires. A final exterior touch is a discrete trunk lid spoiler that adds an aerodynamic flourish and hint of the car’s performance potential.

The Eos Highway 1’s drive train features the 250-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 combined with the DSG double-clutch 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic, yet another example of the car’s dual nature. The DSG system not only offers the driver the advantage of choosing between full automatic operation or full manual selection, DSG also changes gears more quickly and smoothly than a conventional transmission, while improving fuel economy.