Drop Top Golf

2012 VW Golf Cabriolet

It's been a while since we've seen the Golf go topless. In fact, the last time it did was back in the early millenium with the Mk. IV. It wasn't really that good looking, but this new Mk. VI Golf looks really stunning. Obviously, VW had to do some styling changes to make everything fit perfectly including a sloped front windshield, a low-profile roof line, and a slightly altered chassis. But, it's still a Golf, with new features. There are LEDs in the front and rear lights now. The roll bar that the old Golf Cabrio had now comes standard and rises automatically. There are airbags for your head, torso, and knees. The soft-top can be opened or closed when you're on the move at 18.7 MPH. Basically, there's stuff in this car that make you more safe even when you want to enjoy the summer sun. When it comes to power, nothing much has changed. The Golf Cabrio will be offered with a 105 horsepower 1.6-liter TDI engine. That doesn't sound like a lot, but there's also a 207 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine, so expect some GTI-ness with this cabrio to come soon. U.S. prices have not been announced yet, but in Germany, the Golf Cabrio starts at €23,625.

Autobahn Ready!

2012 VW Jetta GLI

I've been waiting for this car to come out for a while. What VW loves to do is to put turbochargers and some sporty styling on two of their most adored cars in the market: the Golf and the Jetta. We've seen what they've done to the Golf, now it's time to look at the Jetta. The all new Jetta GLI features the same old 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine producing 200 horsepower with 207 lb.-ft. of torque. That engine sort of works for VW, so they stuck with it. What's new though is the choice of a 6-speed DSG gearbox which offers better mileage (32 MPG) than the standard 6-speed manual. It also has a more sophisticated independent rear suspension than the standard Jetta and features the XDS cross differential technology from the turbo-nutting GTI. Aside from all this science, the GLI looks more aggressive, has bigger (18") rims, and a mood that will scare the hairs off of a panther. You can have all of this for just $23,495, which is pretty good value for a car that will do 155 MPH on the Autobahn.