VW Eos facelift (2011) first pictures

The new face of the facelifted VW Eos is unveiled today ahead of its public debut at the LA motor show 2010. The design takes a modest step away from the 2006 Eos convertible, with shades of the new VW design language seen across the Polo, Passat and Sharan. 

There's a stronger emphasis on the horizontal lines carried throughout the new design becoming stronger and more obvious towards the rear: a new corporate grille complete with chrome highlights is joined by LED daytime running lights that make the Eos look a shade wider and lower than its predecessor.

Yep. The five-piece folding roof remains the same. If you opt for keyless entry then the roof will be lowered in just 25 seconds while you walk to the car, and now you can play clever clogs via the key fob. Mind you, with the roof down you’ll lose 175 litres of boot space – nearly half its  nominal 380-litre capacity. Just leave the husband’s luggage at the side of the road when the sun’s out.

The 2011 VW Eos’s interior has also seen a change with a leather multi-function steering wheel, air-con, an eight-speaker CD stereo and sports seats now standard across the range.

You won't see the Eos in UK showrooms until spring 2011 and by then there will be a range of more fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines available: from a 1.4-litre TSI producing 122ps, a 2.0-litre TSI with 210ps and a 2.0-litre TDI engine mustering 140ps.

Auto start/stop on the diesel means the fettled Eos can hit a claimed combined economy figure of 58.8mpg. Full prices and specs announced in November 2010.

By Sarah-Jayne Harrison