2012 Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet

Volkswagen has unveiled the world's first-ever Golf GTI Cabriolet. The new model produces 154kW, making it the most powerful Golf Cabriolet ever. It will be revealed in full at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next week.

Volkswagen has ensured all the visual GTI trademarks are in evidence. The red-framed radiator grille gets a honeycomb structure and an offset 'GTI' badge, while there's a GTI front bumper with more of that honeycomb mesh and the characteristic vertical fog lights.

Inside, Volkswagen covers the sports seats in the classic Golf GTI tartan 'Jacky' seat trim, and finishes the pedals and gearlever in aluminium. The steering wheel also becomes a GTI sports-style rim, with red stitching to match the handbrake and gearlever.

The 2.0-litre TSI engine produces 154kW, which helps the Golf GTI Cabriolet accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds. It has a top speed of 235km/h. The new Golf GTI Cabriolet can also average 6.3L/100km and emits 177g/km CO2.

The fabric soft-top roof can be lowered in 9.5 seconds - and, if even that isn't fast enough to raise or lower it at the traffic lights, it can also be operated while driving, at speeds of up to 30km/h.