Volkswagen Eos Highway 1 Debuted

August 21, 2006 – 9:32 am by Dan Volkens
Filed under Concepts, Featured, Volkswagen Eos

The Eos Highway 1 is a new design study by the Veedub designer folks out in Cali.

“The Eos Highway 1 was imagined as the perfect vehicle for the car enthusiast’s driving lifestyle,” said Derek Jenkins, Chief Designer at Volkswagen’s Santa Monica, California Design Center. “The ease of transforming the Eos from coupe to convertible not only makes it enjoyable for all kinds of weather, it’s like having two cars in one, both a comfortable cruiser and a performance coupe.

We wanted to reflect that dual nature in the modifications we made in the creation of the design study. The special leather upholstery and piano black lacquer trim are key components of the luxurious interior, but the 20-inch wheel and tire package, lowered suspension, thick flat-bottom sport steering wheel and rear lip spoiler all communicate a different aspect of the car’s character—performance, the kind that lets a driver really enjoy the challenges of roads like Highway 1.”

I like the adjustments they have made. The color combinations (or lack of color thereof) flow well. I really like the piping on the seats, but the mix of tan and black on the interior push right to the edge of overwhelming for me. It starts to get a bit too “stripey”.

The piano black lacquer trim is a nice change in materials/texture against the flatness of the other interior pieces, and the brushed aluminum pieces add just enough contrast and interest. Any more aluminum would push it off that edge I mentioned earlier.

The suspension drop, courtesy of a custom H&R coilover system, places the stance of the Highway 1 about 1 inch lower than stock, a perfect position for sporty looks as well as performance. They also popped on a very discreet trunk spoiler that adds a little spice to the rear.

Now, on to the wheels. Oh, the wheels. 20 inch multispoke monsters. If you’re gonna go 20’s, you HAVE to make sure you pick the right style of wheel. And personally, I think 19’s would be far better. I’m not a fan of the size nor the style of the wheels, but I have to admit that they do a decent job of adding to the elegance and sportiness of the car. Maybe a single drop in size would do it for me.

Loaded with the 250hp 3.2L VR6 from the beloved R32 mated to VW’s DSG clutchless transmission, the Highway 1 scoots along at a pretty good clip.

Some pics for your enjoyment (or bashing):

Volkswagen Eos Highway 1 Debuted
August 21, 2006 – 9:32 am by Dan Volkens