VW Karmann Polo Cabrio: click to view in hi-res
Emerging reports suggest that the next-generation Volkswagen Golf (known in the United States as the Rabbit) will spawn a convertible version, however the German automaker won't be outsourcing its production to Karmann. The German coachbuilder has built every previous Golf Cabrio, but like many of its Italian counterparts, Karmann has been losing contracts left, right and center. The Chrysler Crossfire is out of production, Audi won't be turning to Karmann for the new A4 convertible, neither will Mercedes for the CLK cabrio. With the new Golf set to debut in Europe early next year, the cabrio is expected to follow a year later. Whether the convertible will make it Stateside remains to be seen, but CAR predicts that the Mk2 Eos will grow in size, be rebadged as the Passat Convertible and will retain its folding hard-top to allow the soft-top Golf to slot in below it.
[Source: CAR]
