The Volkswagen Polo R Supercar is the most radical compact racer with its 570 CV

The world of sporty compacts is at its peak, thanks to the high power outputs that manufacturers are managing to extract. This is reflected in motorsport too, where racing cars run a tune ten times more radical than their production counterparts, as we can see in the new Volkswagen Polo R Supercar, the most radical version of the German compact, built to take victory in the Rallycross championship.

The engineers at Volkswagen made sure to achieve the highest performance possible to dominate the races, and decided to use the Polo as a base, as on other occasions. However, the German brand has improved countless aspects of this rally version, allowing it to return to the whirlwind of success in which Volkswagen has been immersed in the past.

The mechanics are impressive, but the styling of this Polo R bearing a supercar name certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. As its name suggests, this is a true Supercar and, although its dimensions would not be what one expects from a vehicle of its stature in terms of performance, it offers a radical and exaggerated Polo in every respect. The front bumper is considerably wider thanks to the broad wheel arches, which contribute wonderfully to the aerodynamics of the German compact.

At the same time, two large air intakes form on either side of the front splitter, intended to cool the Polo R after a hard day of driving at full speed. The rear follows the same philosophy as the rest of the car, and a huge spoiler extends from it to keep the racing Polo planted to the ground at all times. However, so as not to detract from this extreme and carefully crafted styling, the Volkswagen team took care to develop mechanics that would meet expectations.

Inside this small but tough Polo, we find a four-cylinder in-line engine with a 2.0-litre displacement – just like in the road-going GTI – capable of delivering 570 CV of power. To increase the engine’s efficiency and make it a success on track, the engineers have included a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, an essential aid when the vehicle loses grip in the middle of a race, depending on the terrain.

The drivers Johan Kristoffersson and Petter Solberg will be responsible for defending the title with this new Polo R Supercar. They will face 12 rounds spread across three continents, with the season kicking off on April 14 and 15 in Barcelona, and its final leg in Cape Town on November 24 and 25.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Polo7 versions · from 22,325 €