The newly designed running gear including the steering and brakes should above all fulfill the following requirements: the front axle and steering should be unaffected by the drive motion. The steering shouldn't vibrate - which is a familiar problem in a convertible. The overall tuning should be neutral and as such controllable. The handling of the running gear should be highly agile. And yet the comfort levels should be unlimited. Characteristics to be wished for: Passat-comfort with a dash of Golf GTI-handling.

McPherson-strut system front axle: The Golf's McPherson-strut system front axle was specially adapted for the use in the heavier Eos (1,469 kilogram with the standard engine). The structure is a single wheel suspension on McPherson struts with coil springs. The stabilizer was also specially adapted to suit the Eos.

The four link suspension system: Compared with other concepts, the four link suspension system offers a maximum degree of driving comfort and stability. Due to the special arrangement of the links, the longitudinal and transverse dynamics can be separated. The separation of the functions guarantees maximum dynamics and driving safety on one hand, and on the other a convincing rolling comfort.

The Eos' relatively compact four link rear axle consists of a uncoupled auxiliary frame to which the three transverse links, spring links, track rod and upper transverse link are connected in a transverse direction. The longitudinal wheel guiding is managed by the longitudinal link. In addition there are weight optimized pipe stabilizers mounted on the rear axle.

Electro-mechanical power steering: The handling and comfort characteristics are perfected by the electro-mechanical power steering (EPS), which does not just offer speed adapted assisted steering but which also contributes a great deal to the running stability when driving in a straight line. Furthermore, the new steering system reduces the Eos' fuel consumption by around 0.2 liters. The steering is exactly fine tuned to each different engine option available for the Eos.

Braking and ESP: The new Eos comes standard with the stabilization program ESP and the assisted braking Dual Brake Assist. The disc wheel braking system provides the basis for an excellent deceleration performance. The front brakes are ventilated from the inside; the disc radius is 288 millimeters for engines up to 150 hp; for the more powerful versions it is 312 millimeters. The rear disc radius: up to 150 hp it is 255 millimeters; above 200 hp it is 286 millimeters.


The new Eos - Trial Phase

Two years after the debut of the Eos study "Concept C" at the Geneva Auto Salon, the series version completed the last kilometers of the over one million kilometer long test marathon in South Africa. With the last acceptance run in "Warmland" - regions, so called by automobile developers, characterized by predominantly above average temperatures - the trial phase is completed. The CSC-roof system, the body as well as the drive train and brake components stood at the center of the pre series phase final checks. Conclusion: SOP - start of production.


Prototypes / Around the world 25 times, tracking every mistake, every noise and all with one goal: absolute perfection for the series vehicles.

Mathematically speaking the trial engineers toke the Eos around the world 25 times. It's a fact that the ten prototypes and ten pre series vehicles had to run through an entire auto life span in a fast forward mode. The first Eos prototypes, called construction step 1, rattled off a total of 108,800 kilometers in a few weeks in a "mild climate" under central-European weather conditions, like the one present eight months out of the year at the highly secure VW test grounds Ehra-Lessien near Wolfsburg.

In the subsequent construction step 2 another eight prototypes were built. This series already showed significant optimization towards series production. Generally speaking, thanks to pre-calculation and computer simulations, all prototype construction steps start the test programs more perfect than ever.

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