2004 Volkswagen Concept C

Coming to a Volkswagen Dealer Near You

Slick, smooth and sporting - not exactly the words I'd normally use to describe a Volkswagen. Recent styling emphasis has been on

Could it really be a Volkswagen? The stunning Concept C isn't just a figment of your imagination, it's real, and something similar is on its way to production. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

the jelly-bean shaped Mk V Golf, the anonymous-looking Phaeton and rugged Touareg. And just when I didn't think there was much hope for the people's carmaker to produce something fashionable, along came the Concept C, something fresh and new, a light that if built might be bright enough to transform the dowdy brand's image.

Through the vital process of experimenting, Volkswagen has unveiled a string of concept cars over the past few months. So far, it's been a bit of a hit and miss game, with big thumbs up directed at the wild mid-engined Concept R, but a tepid reception for the rally-raid inspired Concept T. The latest vehicle to come from VW's design chief Murat Gunak is the Concept C and it's quite different. Volkswagen brought this hardtop cabriolet to the world as a

A true four seater. Legs, knees and shoulders have nothing to fear. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

"fictitious series vehicle" (read: near production), in a similar fashion to Mercedes-Benz's Vision CLS concept or BMW's M5 Concept.

Like its showstopper rivals, the Concept C offers a number of attention-grabbing lines and shapes, all kept within the means of a production vehicle. Unsurprisingly, most of these cues are found at the front of the car. It's one of many Volkswagen concept cars to feature a cascading one-piece combination grille and bumper, finished with brilliant chrome accents. Combined with the angled edge of the hood over the car's round headlights, this Volkswagen is a step into the future compared to the dated, passive-looking Jetta and bloated new Golf.