Photo: Theophilus Chin
Last year, Volkswagen was the talk of the town in the WRC. A couple of Polo race cars won the championship and the automaker on their debut season and to celebrate, the company put 2,500 examples of the Polo R WRC into production. That car was unworthy of the R badge though, being equipped with a 220 hp motor, no all-wheel drive and a manual gearbox.
We've learned that Volkswagen is now working on a do-over, which will be based on the 2014 Polo facelift. Although it will look similar, major technological changes are planned.
Firstly, the engine under the bonnet should have 230 hp, not 220. The unit is a 2-liter turbo, like the one Volkswagen equips its Golf GTIs with. Although not as powerful as a Ford Focus ST, the Polo R will be on par with the upcoming MINI John Cooper Works hatch, also to be powered by a 2-liter engine for the first time.
This will be coupled to either a six-speed manual or an optional twin-clutch gearbox. Volkswagen will also get rid of the outdated rigid rear suspension and replace that with an independent system installed on the Audi S1. They will also have to make room for the Haldex 5 all-wheel drive system at the back, even though the Polo was never engineered to take it. To do this, the spare tire will be removed and the fuel tank will be smaller.
Still based on the old PQ25 platform, also known as the A0, the Polo R will be a relatively heavy car, weighing 1350 kilograms. With the DSG gearbox, it will, however, be a fast car, reaching 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds.
Prices will start at €28,000 in Germany, which is really expensive for a Polo. That's not even half of it though, because the LED headlights, the gearbox and adaptive suspension you need in order to spec a nice Polo R will be optional, taking it over the €30,000 barrier.
Rendering via Theophilus Chin
Firstly, the engine under the bonnet should have 230 hp, not 220. The unit is a 2-liter turbo, like the one Volkswagen equips its Golf GTIs with. Although not as powerful as a Ford Focus ST, the Polo R will be on par with the upcoming MINI John Cooper Works hatch, also to be powered by a 2-liter engine for the first time.
This will be coupled to either a six-speed manual or an optional twin-clutch gearbox. Volkswagen will also get rid of the outdated rigid rear suspension and replace that with an independent system installed on the Audi S1. They will also have to make room for the Haldex 5 all-wheel drive system at the back, even though the Polo was never engineered to take it. To do this, the spare tire will be removed and the fuel tank will be smaller.
Still based on the old PQ25 platform, also known as the A0, the Polo R will be a relatively heavy car, weighing 1350 kilograms. With the DSG gearbox, it will, however, be a fast car, reaching 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds.
Prices will start at €28,000 in Germany, which is really expensive for a Polo. That's not even half of it though, because the LED headlights, the gearbox and adaptive suspension you need in order to spec a nice Polo R will be optional, taking it over the €30,000 barrier.
Rendering via Theophilus Chin
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