Volkswagen, Opel Postpones Coupé-Cabriolet Launch
Posted by Lorenzo at 12:26 pm
Text from CARtoday.com.
German arch-rivals Volkswagen and Opel have had to postpone the introduction of their planned four-seater coupe-cabriolets, and in both cases problems with the cars' mechanical roof structures have been cited as the reason.
The Volkswagen Eos and the Opel Astra Twin Top were unveiled at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show and both impressed showgoers with their elegant designs and innovative roof structures.
However, first Volkswagen and now Opel have announced that their respective models will be delayed by at least two months. According to Autocar, engineering problems with the hard top convertibles' complex folding roofs have been quoted as the reasons for the delay.
The Golf-based Eos uses an electrically operated five-section metal roof system. It offers three roofing configurations - hard-top coupe, hard-top with a sliding glass sunroof and convertible.
The Eos will be manufactured at the Volkswagen Autoeuropa-Automóveis Lda factory in Portugal. At the time of its European unveiling, Volkswagen South Africa media liaison, Songezo Zibi said the local subsidiary hoped to introduce the model in South Africa by the end of 2006.
The Astra Twin Top uses a more conventional three-part retractable roof system similar to the one currently used on the Corsa-based Tigra coupe-cabriolet.
Production of the Astra Twin Top was due to start at the beginning of next year at General Motors' ntwerp plant in Belgium, where it will share the line with the five-door Astra and the upcoming three-door GTC model.
German arch-rivals Volkswagen and Opel have had to postpone the introduction of their planned four-seater coupe-cabriolets, and in both cases problems with the cars' mechanical roof structures have been cited as the reason.
The Volkswagen Eos and the Opel Astra Twin Top were unveiled at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show and both impressed showgoers with their elegant designs and innovative roof structures.
However, first Volkswagen and now Opel have announced that their respective models will be delayed by at least two months. According to Autocar, engineering problems with the hard top convertibles' complex folding roofs have been quoted as the reasons for the delay.
The Golf-based Eos uses an electrically operated five-section metal roof system. It offers three roofing configurations - hard-top coupe, hard-top with a sliding glass sunroof and convertible.
The Eos will be manufactured at the Volkswagen Autoeuropa-Automóveis Lda factory in Portugal. At the time of its European unveiling, Volkswagen South Africa media liaison, Songezo Zibi said the local subsidiary hoped to introduce the model in South Africa by the end of 2006.
The Astra Twin Top uses a more conventional three-part retractable roof system similar to the one currently used on the Corsa-based Tigra coupe-cabriolet.
Production of the Astra Twin Top was due to start at the beginning of next year at General Motors' ntwerp plant in Belgium, where it will share the line with the five-door Astra and the upcoming three-door GTC model.
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