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Volkswagen Eos Successor Is Very Unlikely

If you want a compact convertible with seating for four people, you could do a lot worse than the VW Eos. It's well built, understated in design and comes with a sleek folding metal roof. However, despite looking technically superior to the Peugeot 308 CC or the equivalent Renault Megane model, there isn't a market for it any more.
2011 Volkswagen Eos 1 photo
Photo: Volkswagen
Last year, only 8,000 models models were built at the AutoEuropa factory in Palmela, Portugal. That's an incredibly low figure for any standalone model, especially for one coming from a volume brand like Volkswagen.

According to German magazine Der Spiegel, this means that the Eos is not to long for this world. Even without the use of speculative journalism, it's hard to imagine a successor is worthy of being developed.

Some niches are so small that it does not pay," said VW CEO Martin Winterkorn, hinting that the axe is indeed hanging over the Eos' head.

Launched back in 2006, the Eos is slightly longer than the Golf 5 it's based on. Cosmetic updates for the car were designed into the 2010 model, together with engine and tech upgrades. However, starting just shy of €30,000 in Germany, it's quite an expensive model, especially when you consider VW has two more attractive nameplates, the Golf Cabrio and Beetle Cabrio.

With 40,000 sales last year, the Sharan is another model that's likely to be axed, together with its platform brother the SEAT Alhambra. It seems the German strategy for understated design has not helped them. Now in its second generation, the Sharan's design date back to a 2010 debut. This large MPV is based on the PQ46, like the Passat.

This large MPV is unlikely to need replacing until 2016 or later, but seeing as both Sharan and the Eos are built in the same factory (AutEuropa), the decision of axing both models could hurt the 3000 or so working there.

Via stern.de
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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