(March 19, 2011) Volkswagen has begun production of its newest drop top, the 2012 Golf Cabriolet.

Volkswagen hasn’t offered a cabriolet variant of its popular Golf model since 2003 — two generations ago. Filling the gap since then has been the slightly upscale Eos and the New Beetle convertible.

Pictures show the new cabriolet very attractive, but unfortunately there are no plans to bring it to the United States,

The newest Volkswagen is being built at Volkswagen's newest facility in Osnabruck in Germany. Volkswagen Osnabrück currently has a workforce of 1,250, and a total of 1,800 people will have a job in the facility by the end of the year.

Although largely resembling the two-door Golf, VW took steps to give the Cabriolet its own personality. Unlike the typical appearance of prior cabriolets, VW removed the fixed roll bar and replaced it with units that automatically deploy in the event of a roll over. European customers will have the choice from the same array engine options as the Golf hatchback, all4-cylinders ranging in displacement from 1.2 to 2.0-liter in both gasoline and diesel.

Rolling off the Onsabruck production line first was a model painted Sunset Red. By the end of the year VW will have invested some $420 million into the plant in preparation for the new model. With an annual capacity of 100,000 units, the Osnabruck facility has the ability to produce Porsche Boxster and Cayman models should demand require it.