Just in time for the Spring Volkswagen releases the new drop-top version of the Golf GTI.

The new Golf GTI Cabrio does not look as dramatic as the concept version, and it’s not exactly a looker with the fabric roof up, but the fact that VW decided to make it in the first place is a cause for celebration. The car seems to be great fun.

The looks are standard GTI, with a honeycomb grille, dual tailpipes, standard 17-inch ‘Monza’ alloys and bespoke rear diffuser. The roof, however, is a fabric one that goes up and down in in just 9.5 seconds, even while travelling at speeds of up to 18 mph.

The interior is classically beautiful, which is a good job because everybody can see it when you have the top down. It features tartan ‘Jacara’ cloth upholstery (‘Vienna’ leather upholstery is optional), leather-wrapped GTI multifunction steering wheel, handbrake and gear lever gaiter with contrasting red stitching, stainless steel pedals plus back ‘Edge’ accents.

The engine is the same as the GTI hatchback as well; a 210 PS and 206 lbs ft (280 Nm) 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit, which propels the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.3 seconds, and on to ta top speed of 147 mph. The car can be had with either a six-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox.

Understandably, the Cabrio is about 0.4 second slower to 100 km/h than the hatchback.

The car also gets all the high-tech stuff of the hatch, including standard EDS electronic differential lock and XDS transverse differential lock, plus automatically deploying rollover protection, front and side head/thorax airbags and a driver’s knee airbag as standard.

Sales begin in the second half of the year with prices yet to be revealed. If you are visiting Geneva Auto Salon, keep an eye out for it.