A high-ranking Volkswagen executive has suggested the new T-Roc Cabriolet will effectively replace the soft-top Golf as the German firm’s only convertible.

Speaking to Auto Express, Jürgen Stackmann, member of the board responsible for sales, marketing and after sales, said the newcomer would have “very few natural competitors”.

“I don’t think people will detect this as an SUV-cabriolet. I think they will look at the car and see a very strong, characterful car,” he said.

Stackmann furthermore effectively confirmed the upcoming Golf 8 would not be offered as a cabriolet.

“We took the decision to do the T-Roc Cabriolet as a team, and to be frank, we asked the team ‘show us the car; if we love it, we’ll give it a shot’. We loved it.

“It will suit the line-up and it will be a good Volkswagen. I don’t think we need to take another cabriolet into what is a small market segment, so Golf, I don’t think will get a cabriolet,” he said.

The two-door T-Roc Cabriolet measures 4 268 mm long and bears a wheelbase of 2 630 mm. The Wolfsburg-based firm claims the luggage compartment can hold 284 litres.

VW says the newcomer’s fully automated, electro-hydraulic soft-top opens in nine seconds at speeds up to 30 km/h, while claiming the interior is “quiet thanks to both the sophisticated design of the soft top” and the “specially developed” window and door seals.

Volkswagen South Africa earlier told CARmag.co.za while the standard T-Roc would be introduced locally in 2020, there were "no confirmed plans" to add the T-Roc Cabriolet to the SA range.

Original article from Car