Prior to production, the Eos was shown as the Concept C at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show — designed by a team headed by Peter Schreyer, Head of Volkswagen Design in Wolfsburg.^[3] Other sources attribute the design of the Eos specifically to Slovenian Robert Lešnik.^[1]

The production Eos, manufactured at the AutoEuropa plant in Portugal, was presented in September 2005, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with the North American introduction at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006.

Unlike the Cabrio, which was a convertible version of the Golf hatchback, the Eos was a standalone model with all new body panels, sharing its platform and components with the Volkswagen Golf (Mk5).

The Eos uses a five piece folding roof with an integrated, independently operating glass sunroof — making the Eos the only retractable hardtop of this kind. The roof folds automatically into the trunk in twenty five seconds, reducing trunk space from 10.5 to 6.6 cubic feet (300 to 190 L).

The roof, designed and manufactured by OASys, a subsidiary of Webasto Germany, uses its own hydraulic control system and numerous rubber seals. Periodic maintenance is required so seals remain conditioned and functional.

Early Eos models had a leak-prone seal design, subsequently updated in the 2009/2010 timeframe. Proper body alignment is critical for proper top function.^{[citation needed]}

A facelifted Volkswagen Eos appeared in October 2010, and went on sale as a model of 2012 outside Europe. This facelift includes a revised front and rear fascias, headlights and tail lights, side mirrors, as well as new wheel designs.

The White Night edition featured a black interior, white exterior paint, black painted roof, LED tail lights, and 18 inch Budapest wheels.

Other features include black mirror covers, radiator grille and trim strips, black Nappa leather seats, door and side trim and black steering wheel with contrasting seams, trim strips and radio trim in candy white, sill panel strips with white night letters. Other features include automatic climate control, sports chassis lowered 15 mm (0.6 in) and heated front seats. The option was available with all non V6 models.^[4]

Sales of the Eos steadily declined, and by 2014 had become one of the VW last models using the Mark 5 platform.

During 2014, Volkswagen announced the Eos' discontinuation with close of model year 2015, marked by a Final Edition trim level.^{[citation needed]}

The 2015-only Final Edition trim replaced the Sport trim marketed in the US and included Sport trim features along with a two tone beige/black leather upholstery, back up camera and park distance control — and three available paint colors: black, brown and white.^{[citation needed]}

In August 2015, Volkswagen announced a limited run of Eos models of 2016 in Komfort trim only. In October 2015, at least one dealer was quoted as saying only 1,300 cars were made available for the United States in four colours: black, brown, red and white. Since 2014, the Komfort trim included a high level of standard features as well as in-dash navigation.^{[citation needed]}

The Eos was released in Europe in the first quarter of 2006, and in North America in the third quarter of 2006. Right hand drive markets, such as Japan, began sales in October 2006, followed by New Zealand and Australia in January 2007. It was released in South Africa in the second quarter of 2007.

• Eos at Volkswagen International
• A link to an article of the Eos' inspiration, the Concept C.