The SUV convertible niche isn’t exactly taking off, but that hasn’t stopped Volkswagen from giving the green light to a T-Roc Cabriolet.
Part of their major model offensive, which will include electrification as well, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet (name unconfirmed) was officially confirmed today at the VW Group Supervisory Board meeting where the Germans shared a teaser sketch of the vehicle.
VW said production will begin at their Osnabruck plant, in Germany, in the second half of 2020. The factory, which is home to around 2,300 employees, used to assemble the Golf Cabriolet, and is currently putting together the Tiguan and Porsche Cayman. It’s also responsible for the painting work needed for the Skoda Fabia. To make the new crossover drop top, it will receive an €80 million (~$98 million) investment.
“Volkswagen is evolving into an SUV brand. The T-Roc is already setting new standards in the compact SUV segment. With the cabriolet based on the T-Roc, we will be adding a highly emotional model to the range”, said Herbert Diess, VW brand CEO. “I am especially pleased to note that we can count on the Osnabruck team’s decades of experience with convertibles.”
Given the timeframe for the announcement, Volkswagen could take everyone by surprise and preview the brand’s first-ever SUV cabriolet with a concept in Geneva, alongside the ID Vizzion. The production model is expected to be revealed in late 2019 or early 2020.
By 2020, the Volkswagen brand intends to expand its crossover range throughout the world to 20 models, at which point, around 40 percent of the vehicles sold by the company will be SUVs.
