Volkswagen Polo

For sun-loving VW fans, the most exciting Volkswagen at the Frankfurt Motor Show was nowhere to be seen on the firm’s own stand.

This sharp Polo Cabrio is the work of coachbuilder Karmann, which was famous for its classic 1955 Karmann Ghia. The four-seater drop-top has been developed to showcase the firm’s latest folding-roof technology.

Along with its Polo GTI-inspired styling, the canvas top also has two sliding glass sections front and rear to let fresh air into the cabin. They are operated independently from the roof, while the rear window also allows easier access to the boot than regular supermini cabrios can normally offer. Equally impressive are the folding back seats, which extend the luggage area without the need for any intrusive body-strengthening structures.

This is made possible with the introduction of COPS – Cabrio Over­head Protection System – which uses fixed rollover bars behind the rear seats to both improve crash safety and increase body stiffness. Karmann’s system is also lighter than conventional roll bars. But the designers haven’t stopped there. In order to get the VW’s proportions right, the Polo’s tail has been lengthened by 130mm and the track widened by 40mm.

The trademark GTI black honeycomb grille features at the front, while there are black alloy wheels with a striking red rim all-round.

Mechanical changes are less substantial, but to give the Polo a more aggressive look, engineers have fitted a new exhaust system with twin pipes mounted in the centre of the bumper. The Polo Cabrio has been produced to show the engineering expertise of Karmann. And although there are currently no firm plans to put it into production, the company has identified there is still a strong demand for convertibles with fabric hoods, despite the rise of folding hard-top models. And with cloth-roofed versions of the Audi A3 and BMW’s 1-Series on the way, the ragtop Polo could have a bright future.