In the not-too-distant past, when you went to the dealership to pick out your new car, you had a wide variety of models available with very different body styles: sedan, minivan, coupe, 4X4, sports car, convertible…

The convertible market is in decline

But in the meantime, the harvest of SUVs has passed, and these models with a fake SUV gradually supplanted all categories of the market. Now we find SUVs-coupes, minibuses with high legs, body city cars. Even convertible SUVs, as was the case for a while Nissan with its Murano CrossCabrio, Land Rover with the Range Rover Evoque or even Volkswagen with the T-Roc, which is still on the market… But not for long! Even if he was the best-selling convertible in Europe last year (ahead of the Mazda MX-5 and Ford Mustang), will soon retreat, Volkswagen has decided not to offer it descendants… Again aside. several die-hard “convertibles” from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Fiat and Mini, the supply of this type of model has become dangerously scarce in recent years. However, think back to the early 2000s, when all manufacturers, even station wagons, had them in their catalog: Peugeot 206 CC, Citroën C3 Pluriel, Ford Streetka, Opel Tigra, Smart Roadster, Mitsubishi Colt CZC… Despite this unfavorable context, the famous manufacturer today presents a unique convertible: here is the Volkswagen Virtus Cabrio!

Virtus convertible for President Lula

If the name Virtus doesn’t mean anything to you, that’s okay. This model is strictly reserved for developing countries, it was first introduced in Brazil in 2018, then in India, South Africa (as the Polo Sedan) and China (Lavida XR). It is about a four-door version of the current Volkswagen Polo, which we know well in Europe. The Virtus never existed in convertible form, so it’s even more surprising to find it today in this new silhouette, produced by Volkswagen do Brasil… If it is so special, it is because it was conceived and created for a high personality: Brazilian President Lula! During an event organized in early February at the factory in Ancieta, near São Paulo, the local branch of Volkswagen announced a US$3.24 billion investment plan aimed at modernize its four production facilities in Brazil and launch 16 new models by 2028. Very good news for the Brazilian economy, which explains President Lula’s visit that day. On this occasion, Volkswagen produced this unique example in top secret, designed to show the head of state the Anchieta factory. The special feature of this Virtus convertible is that it has retained four doors (a rarity for convertibles) and be fitted with a ceremonial rack at the back so the president could parade in front of the factory workers. It is now on display in the “Garagem VW”, a museum dedicated to special vehicles located in the center of the factory.

Volkswagen do Brasil is not the first to produce such a model. Back in 1959, President Juscelino held a parade aboard a Volkswagen Fusca convertible (local name Zhuka). Lula, who was already president of Brazil from 2003 to 2011, was entitled to the Polo Sedan convertible in 2003 and the Fox convertible in 2005…

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