2019 Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet Concept

Volkswagen is presenting the VW Golf R Cabriolet as a concept car with 270 PS of power and a top speed of 250 km/h; it is a fascinating thought experiment in cabrio dynamics. This "power cabrio" also demonstrates the inexhaustible potential of the Golf. Volkswagen just recently introduced the new Golf Cabriolet, and the designers and engineers of Volkswagen R GmbH have already come up with an extremely sporty variant of this model: the Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet Concept. Like its closed top counterpart, the 199 kW / 270 PS Cabriolet concept races to the 100 km/h mark in less than six seconds. Their top speeds are also identical at 250 km/h. This makes the R Cabriolet the fastest open-top Golf ever. Even more impressive, however, is the engine's tremendous torque - 350 Newton metres from a low 2,500 rpm make this cabriolet an ideal cruiser. Like the closed-top Golf R, the cabriolet was lowered by 25 mm via a sport chassis. A 17-inch brake system with internally ventilated discs at all wheels and blue painted high-performance brake callipers (including R-logo) enables impressive deceleration values. Making contact to the road surface on the Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet Concept are 19-inch "Talladega" alloy wheels with size 235 tyres. Naturally, the VW Golf R Cabriolet Concept also presents an especially sporty interior concept. Motorsport shell seats in dark blue carbon leather, combined with high-end Nappa leather in "Pure Grey", set the tone here. The backs of the shell seats are painted in luxurious black piano paint. Upholstery piping and decorative seams provide for colour contrast. Carbon accents emphasise the concept's technical-sporty character. The sand-blasted aluminium door sill plates with black piano paint inlays display finely crafted workmanship.

It is available as an option for the Vito panel van and comes as standard in the Vito crewbus licensed as a passenger car. A label below the A-pillar confirms that BlueEFFICIENCY is on board. The BlueEFFICIENCY package combines sustainability and economy in exemplary fashion. It further reduces the Mercedes Vito's traditionally low fuel consumption by an additional 0.2-0.3 litres per 100 km (6.75 g of CO2 per km) in the new generation, according to model and engine variant. Long maintenance intervals also contribute to the Vito's sustainability and economy. The ASSYST service computer which comes as standard calculates oil-change intervals on a flexible basis according to the actual use of the vehicle. The average interval across all engines stands at 30,000 km or two years. Higher mileages are also possible between oil changes, depending on the intensity of use and the individual driving style. The Vito 4x4 with permanent all-wheel drive and variable power distribution by means of the 4ETS traction system also benefits from numerous innovations. A new 3-point bearing for the front-axle transmission and an increased oil volume reduce vibration and wear on the all-wheel drive. Helical gearing for the differential provides for smoother running.

Please bin it, Affalterbach - if there was ever an engine did not need an enhanced noise, it’s your fantastic hot-vee 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8. Which Mercedes is it most like inside? Most exciting however are the new wheel-mounted controls including a round drive-mode selector with integrated display, and two customisable buttons on the other side, which you can use to change the damping, exhaust noise and so forth. The centre console also boasts a bank of animated buttons, for things like the manual gearbox mode, ESP, rear spoiler and start/stop. Each one is a tiny TFT display, with a symbol that changes in appearance or colour when you press it. In the back there are three configurations for the rear bench - two individual seats with fixed backrests are standard, and you can pick either an additional middle seat that folds, or the…ahem… High-Class Rear option. This gives you two individual folding seats and a special centre console with access to the infotainment functions and comfort features, plus wireless charging, two USBs and a temperature-controlled cupholder.

Let’s talk about boot space quickly - you get 456 litres, which is more than E-Class Coupe, less than the Saloon, and easier to access than both thanks to that aforementioned tailgate. Fold the seats (presuming you specified that option) and you get 1324 litres, which is enough for larger items. Careful not to lose items at the far end, though: if the car is dirty you'll end up getting muck on your trousers. Are there any other versions? Depending on where you live - in the UK we get the GT 63 S and GT 63 (same engine, less power, takes two tenths longer from 0-62mph) but AMG also produces 53 and 43 variants for continental Europe. We just get the V8s in the UK - something most of us will surely be happy about. We think this car’s biggest issue is its name and positioning - which leads you to draw comparisons to the two-seat GT, which this car is plainly not, or the E63, which it isn’t that much of either. With all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering and about a million different drive modes and programmes this isn’t the pure driving experience you’d get in a small sports car - but it’s no less effective. Think Eurofighter Typhoon instead of Supermarine Spitfire.