Watch the Golf R Cabriolet in action

By Nick Jaynes Published December 19, 2012

Golf R Cabriolet — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Just a few weeks ago at the LA Auto Show, we were speaking with some of the Volkswagen public relations folks, asking if we’d ever see the Beetle R that the corporate folks in Germany had just announced. They informed us that we would not.

Today comes a glimpse of a vehicle just might be able to get our hands on here in the states: The Golf R Cabriolet. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 256 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, the Golf R is the most powerful Golf ever sold in the US. With a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive, and a 17-PSI BorgWarner turbocharger, the Golf R will achieve 19 MPG city and 27 highway.

Recommended Videos

We’ve seen stolen patent images and spy shots of the Golf R Cabriolet for a while now, but this is the first look at the vehicle in motion. And boy does it look and sound good.

Part of the cache of owning a hot hatch, like the standard Golf R is its ability to be a mental, road-hugging German machine and just as easily become a sensible utility vehicle. The Golf R Cabriolet gives up half of that equation – at least — when it loses its roof.

The roof will undoubtedly fold in a matter of seconds but will then stow where there once was a cavernous hatch space. Not only that, as previous convertible-ized cars of the past have demonstrated; when you cut the roof off, you sacrifice driving crispness. Suddenly a very well mannered hot hatch is rendered a loose lump of metal as the roof holds a lot of stiffness in the body.

Regardless of its potential loss of utility and responsiveness, we think the Golf R Cabriolet looks fantastic. Not only that, the Cabriolet version of the Golf R would fill a much-needed hole in the market: an accessible, fast, all-wheel drive German convertible.

No specifics have been released on the Golf R Cabriolet at this time but we’ll be certain to keep our ears to the ground and bring you information as soon as it comes available.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

Cars

Hyundai’s brand new Ioniq 9 EV features backseat lounge

hyundai ioniq 9 lounge 4 single image desktop

After months of teasing details about the Ioniq 9, Hyundai’s much-anticipated, three-row electric SUV, the company finally unveiled it at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

One of the Ioniq 9’s promised features -- that the SUV had the ability to offer a lounge-like interior – had most of us wondering what exactly that might mean.

Cars

Kia America COO says ending EV tax credit would be dumb

kia coo ending ev incentive dumb zeta evs

With Kia just getting started with the expansion of its U.S.-made electric-vehicle (EV) lineup, the automaker may have a good perspective on what losing tax incentives on EVs could mean for the industry and the economy.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is reportedly planning to end the federal $7,500 tax credit on the purchase or lease of an EV. Under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), an EV made in North America is eligible for the incentive.

Cars

Mercedes bets solar paint is part of EV-charging future

mercedes solar paint evs benz electric camper

It’s been said that Albert Einstein’s genius came from his ability to freely wonder and ask child-like questions way before he even tried applying science-based solutions.
It seems some within the R&D department at Mercedes-Benz might be similarly inspired. The German automaker is currently developing a special solar paint that, when applied on the surface of vehicles, can harness enough energy from the sun to power up EVs.
The energy generated by the paint’s solar cells can be used for driving or fed directly into a high-voltage battery.
“The photovoltaic system is permanently active and also generates energy when the vehicle is switched off,” Mercedes says. “In the future, this could be a highly effective solution for increased electric range and fewer charging stops.”
The layer of paste to be applied on EVs is significantly thinner than a human hair, yet its photovoltaic cells are packed full of energy. Covering the surface of a mid-size SUV with the paint could produce enough energy for up to 7,456 miles per year under ideal conditions, Mercedes says.
This does imply being in geographic locations with plenty of sun hours during the day.
But even with less-than-ideal sun hours, the energy yielded can make a significant difference to EV charging. Mercedes says the solar-paint charge could provide 100% of needed energy for an average daily drive of 32 miles in sun-drenched Los Angeles. In much less sunny conditions -- such as around Mercedes’ headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany -- it would still yield enough energy for 62% of the distance.
An added bonus for environmentally-conscious drivers: Unlike some solar panels, the solar paint contains no rare earth or silicon – only non-toxic, readily available raw materials. It’s also easy to recycle and considerably cheaper to produce than conventional solar modules, Mercedes says.
The likes of Aptera, Sono Motors, Lightyear, and Hyundai have also been researching how to best harness solar energy to power up EVs.
But that’s been mostly through solar panels yielding enough energy for small and light vehicles, such as Aptera’s three-wheel solar EV. Solar paint could bring solar charging for bigger vehicles, such as electric SUVs, Mercedes says.