Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Volkswagen Polo R WRC takes to the air during tests]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/30/volkswagen-polo-r-wrc-takes-to-the-air-during-tests/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/30/volkswagen-polo-r-wrc-takes-to-the-air-during-tests/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/30/volkswagen-polo-r-wrc-takes-to-the-air-during-tests/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

VW Polo R WRC

There should be a production version of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC that's simply called the Polo RC, as in "RC car." Watching the diminutive VW being tested in Finland in preparation for next year's World Rally Championship makes us think "Wow, that's awesome!" and "Who's got the remote?"

The rawer, wider, lighter Polo is powered by a Pratt & Whitney 300-horsepower, 1.6-liter STI engine, and sounds it. It might take some time for it to start winning, but there's proof in the video below that it will fly from the very first rally.

Continue reading Volkswagen Polo R WRC takes to the air during tests

Volkswagen Polo R WRC takes to the air during tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Jun 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>polopolo r wrcvideovideosvolkswagenvolkswagen polo r wrcworld rally championshipwrcyoutubeSat, 30 Jun 2012 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20268818/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/30/volkswagen-polo-r-wrc-takes-to-the-air-during-tests/20268818/article-detail.xml 20268818 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/polorwrctest_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/polorwrctest.jpg <![CDATA[Volkswagen Polo R WRC looks ready to tackle the tarmac]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/15/volkswagen-polo-r-wrc-frankfurt-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/15/volkswagen-polo-r-wrc-frankfurt-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/15/volkswagen-polo-r-wrc-frankfurt-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Volkswagen announced earlier this year that it would be entering the World Rally Championship starting in 2013 with the Polo R, and we got our first glimpse of the race car here in Frankfurt. While it's easy to see the similarities to the road version, the Polo R WRC has been transformed into an all-out rally car with widened fenders, a fully stripped and caged interior, and plenty of carbon fiber on the body. Under the hood is a race-prepped version of Volkswagen's 1.6-liter STI engine producing something in the range of 300 horsepower. 300 HP! This is a Polo, people.

Volkswagen is no stranger to rally racing, having won the 1986 Group A championship with a Golf GTI 16V and more recently finding success in the Australian and Finnish Rally Car Championships. VW also hopes to transfer some of the knowledge gained from competing in the Dakar Rally, which it has won the past three years.

We'll have to wait and see if the Polo R WRC finds similar success in motorsports, but with Volkswagen's backing, we wouldn't be surprised to see it on the podium soon enough. That won't be for a few years, though, so in the meantime, check out our photos of the car on display in Frankfurt.

Volkswagen Polo R WRC looks ready to tackle the tarmac originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 frankfurt motor showfrankfurtfrankfurt 2011frankfurt motor showpolopolo rpolo r wrcvolkswagenvolkswagen polo rvolkswagen polo r wrcvwvw polo rvw polo r wrcThu, 15 Sep 2011 11:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20042421/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/15/volkswagen-polo-r-wrc-frankfurt-2011/20042421/article-detail.xml 20042421 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/vw-polo-r-wrc-frankfurt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/vw-polo-r-wrc-frankfurt.jpg <![CDATA[Volkswagen WRC program to lead to street-legal Polo R?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/volkswagen-wrc-program-to-lead-to-street-legal-polo-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/volkswagen-wrc-program-to-lead-to-street-legal-polo-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/volkswagen-wrc-program-to-lead-to-street-legal-polo-r/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Volkswagen Polo R WRC
Volkswagen Polo R WRC - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been an on-again, off-again affair with rumors of a possible R version of the Volkswagen Polo. But according to the latest from the Old World, things are looking up for the prospective pocket rocket.

The change in fortunes come down, according to Autocar, to the launch of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC, the car with which the German automaker is preparing to mount its assault on the World Rally Championship. As you can see, the rally machine carries R branding, prompting the British publication to press VW board member Ulrich Hackenberg on the renewed possibility of a production Polo R hot hatch.

Hackenberg admitted such a vehicle is more likely with the launch of the WRC Polo, but that it wouldn't arrive before 2013. As for specs, that's all up to speculation. Autocar figures on a version of the Polo GTI's 1.4-liter twin-charger four with over 200 horsepower, with or without the all-wheel-drive system being developed by Audi for the A1 built on the same platform. One way or another, we'll be watching this development as it unfolds (or doesn't).

Volkswagen WRC program to lead to street-legal Polo R? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>polopolo rpolo r wrcvolkswagenvolkswagen polovolkswagen polo rvolkswagen polo r wrcvwvw polovw polo rvw polo r wrcTue, 17 May 2011 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19940806/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/17/volkswagen-wrc-program-to-lead-to-street-legal-polo-r/19940806/article-detail.xml 19940806 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web630-11vw-polo-r-wrc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web630-11vw-polo-r-wrc.jpg <![CDATA[Volkswagen to contest WRC with Polo R in 2013 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/05/volkswagen-to-contest-wrc-with-polo-r-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/05/volkswagen-to-contest-wrc-with-polo-r-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/05/volkswagen-to-contest-wrc-with-polo-r-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: , ,

volkswagen polo r wrc
Volkswagen Polo R WRC - Click above for high-res image gallery

Everyone wants to go rallying these days. Mini put the world on notice when it announced it was heading back into the WRC fray, and now Volkswagen wants to join that party. No longer content to watch its Touaregs blast across the vicious routes of the Dakar Rally, VW is bringing the Polo R WRC hot hatch to the World Rally Championship.

The all-wheel-drive Polo R WRC will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, which Volkswagen expects will produce around 300 horsepower. Volkswagen Motorsport has high hopes for its WRC Polo, and hopefully the team can draw on the success that VW experienced with rallying in the 1980s. In 1986, a Volkswagen GTI was the winning car in the newly formed Group A. Look for the Volkwagen Polo R WRC to try and capture some of that former glory starting with the 2013 WRC season. Hit the jump for VW's official press release, as well as a teaser video. Hat tip to Chris!

Continue reading Volkswagen to contest WRC with Polo R in 2013 [w/video]

Volkswagen to contest WRC with Polo R in 2013 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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