The lid has been lifted on VW’s next open champion – meet the new Golf Cabriolet! One of the best-loved cars in the history of the German brand returns to the line-up next year. On sale in the UK at the same time as the rest of the Golf MkVI range, the Cabriolet will give sun-seekers a cut-price alternative to Audi’s new drop-top A3. It will also compete with more mainstream models such as the Ford Focus CC and Peugeot 308 CC. As you can see, the VW bucks the current trend for folding metal roofs and instead has a traditional fabric top – as with every previous generation. Its state-of-the-art hood is shared with the A3 Cabriolet, and will provide the Golf with a classy look.

It has a multi-layer construction for impressive refinement at high speeds, and as with the Audi, the mechanism will be fully automatic – owners simply press a button on the dashboard or the key fob to operate it.

The roof can be lowered or raised with the car moving at up to 20mph – a process that takes less than 10 seconds – and once down, it sits flush with the bodywork behind the rear seats.

The soft-top bodystyle sits perfectly with the evolutionary lines of the latest family car range, which include a fresh grille. But it still gets traditional Golf design features, such as a rising waistline and chunky C-pillars.

Inside, there will be space for four people, with legroom on a par with the three-door. The roof will cut into boot space, but the Golf has always been one of the most practical drop-tops, so expect fold-flat seats and a ski hatch to make the most of the room available.

VW has developed the latest Golf under tight financial constraints – the project was given a relatively small budget as the MkV has proved expensive to build – so it’s amazing that a soft-top has been produced at all. Yet this won’t prevent the Cabriolet from offering superb quality and generous standard kit. All models will get air-con and Bluetooth connectivity.

Under the skin, a simple multi-link rear suspension layout will cut produc-tion times and costs. To make up for the loss of the roof, the A-pillars, side sills and floorpan are reinforced, and strong steel rollover hoops added.

Engine options comprise 158bhp 1.8 and 197bhp 2.0-litre TFSI petrols, plus 104bhp 1.9 and 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesels, while VW’s twin-clutch DSG transmission will be an optional extra. The Cabriolet will debut alongside the rest of the new Golf range later this year, with sales starting early in 2009.