Volkswagen Polo R WRC: photo gallery

Although it has little to do with the version of the Volkswagen Polo that Sébastien Ogier drives in the WRC, Volkswagen has wanted to give the street driver its own version of the car that is leading the brand to comfortably dominate the World Rally Championship. Of course, this special edition of the Polo also hides another compelling reason: the need to build 2,500 “civilian” units of the car in order to homologate its competition vehicles.

Volkswagen already tempted us with this model a couple of months ago, when we witnessed its debut at the Barcelona Motor Show. Beneath its white paint and blue and grey stripes we won’t find the 315 hp of the rally car, but we will find the 2-litre petrol TSI engine, producing 220 hp, which allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 246 km/h.

You won’t find a DSG gearbox here; instead, Volkswagen has opted for a six-speed manual gearbox. It will also be equipped with an electronic differential that keeps the power in check, which is always difficult to manage in a front-wheel-drive car, along with more sporty suspension settings.

The distinctive exterior details will be the black-housed mirrors, a spoiler in the same colour and, of course, the obligatory decals, which this time come in grey and blue on the bonnet and sides (there are two different designs), the brake calipers are blue and the wheels are 18 inches. Inside, it will be offered with Alcantara upholstery, and the seats (with their corresponding WRC logos) will be heated; the steering wheel has a specific trim and the pedals are aluminium. Standard equipment includes xenon headlights with cornering lights, air conditioning and the RNS 315 sound system. It will also come with cruise control, light and rain sensors, climate control and navigation.

The photos we are showing you come from a gallery that Volkswagen released just a few hours ago. As well as being the fastest Polo in history, along with the Polo GTI, it is also the most eye-catching. I’m not a fan of racing decorations, but given the 220 hp and the fact that it is a limited edition, they are justified.

The Volkswagen Polo R WRC will be available in Germany from September, when deliveries of the first orders for the car, which have been open since last year, will begin. Its selling price in Germany is around 33,000 euros.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Polo7 versions · from 22,325 €