VW Is Working On A 300bhp 'Polo R', And It Could Be All Kinds Of Awesome
While the C-cegment hot hatch arms race has resulted in cars nudging the 400bhp mark, things are a little more sedate in the class below. Most of the major B-segment hot hatches hover around the 200bhp mark, but there may be a rather significant development to change that: a VW Polo R.
The MKVI Polo GTI (below) already uses the same ‘EA888’ 2.0-litre engine found in the 306bhp Golf R but with a lower state of tune, and turning up the anger would apparently be quite easy. “There is enough room for all the extra cooling in the Polo, for sure,” VW small car lines boss Ralf Kölling told Autocar. The four-wheel drive system in the Golf R fits too, and there are already prototypes in existence.
But will VW pull the trigger? That remains to be seen. On the one hand, VW is expanding the R range right now - five-cylinder-powered Tiguan R prototypes have been spotted testing, and a T-Roc R is thought to be in the works too. But a Polo R could be tricky to place in the range, potentially being a little too close to the performance of the Golf R. In fact, it’d probably be quicker unless VW seriously pegged back the power.
Right now, all we can do is cross our fingers wait…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
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I need to get some money. Then while the Polo GTI is rare in India…..
I was waiting for this to happen
omg YES! And because that will make the Polo faster than a Golf there will have to be a faster Golf aswell! And there is a concept of a five cylinder Golf!!!
Just a suped up Gulf I suppose.
Aparantly they stole the wheels from tesla
If they want to make it more distinguished from the Golf R why not include the extra power but leave it as FWD? Then it would fit a different niche and not be a direct competitor while still being a fun car. It would be more like a lighter and smaller Civic Type R rival
Didn’t VW say they were not going to do the Polo R to save money along with pulling out of WRC?
If they can fit Golf R powetrain, surely they can fit RS3 powertrain too…
Just imagine the madness of a 5-cylinder Polo!