RE: VW confirms Polo R
Thursday 23rd January 2014
It was inevitable really, wasn't it? First there was the Polo R WRC limited edition, then the WRC success and recently the news that Audi will build an S1. So no prizes for guessing that there will be a Polo R production model in the VW line-up soon.
More hp than a Golf GTI and less weight? HmmMost of the spec is fairly predictable too. It will use the EA888 2.0-litre turbo from the Golf GTI and R with a six-speed DSG likely. The drives of a prototype are currently hinting at around 250hp and 258lb ft, the latter identical to every EA888-engined VW so far from 220hp Golf to 280hp Leon Cupra.
VW confirms Polo R
4WD and 250hp for definite and a DSG looks likely for the Polo flagship
More hp than a Golf GTI and less weight? Hmm
The biggest surprise comes from the suspension; thanks to the inclusion of 4WD, a multi-link rear suspension has been devised to replace the torsion beam used in every other Polo. According to Autocar's prototype drive, it adds some agility to the Polo's chassis.
The Polo R could join the Audi S1 in making its debut at Geneva in March but nothing has been finalised yet. Autocar has suggested it will cost around £21,000 which seems a bit optimistic given a three-door GTI is £19,730. Presumably it would have to be significantly under the £26,125 the Golf GTI starts at to avoid cannibalising any sales of the bigger car. And with the Polo R significantly more powerful than the brilliant Fiesta ST, could it spur Ford into creating the much rumoured Fiesta RS?
[Source: Autocar]
Discussion
Axionknight said:
I wonder what it weights and how the 4WD is set up? I bet it's a proper porker and if the 4WD is 50/50 split then to me it's just another fat, ugly VAG pudding.
Pass.
It'll be the usual Haldex system like all the transverse AWD VAG cars. Sounds like it could be a riot though, 250hp in a Polo? Yum.Pass.
How long before the Fabia vRS(R) and Ibiza Cupra R versions ? Hopefully better price on these versions.
Current Polo GTI 180 retails for over £20k so sub £20k for the R is not on, I would expect it to be £23-24k. Currently Fabia vRS and Ibiza Cupra are £3-2.5k cheaper than Polo (on retail, more like £4k with deals/haggling) so a Fabia may creep under the £20k mark retail (£18k after a while and haggling), now that would be a bargain.
That said, this will be a very intersting car which may start a bit of a trend if they sell well with the Fiesta RS and an uprated Clio Sport (now with turbo engine so easier to uprate).
How things have changed in the past 20 years - Sierra Cosworth was the dogs danglies then with a tad over 200hp and 4wd but low 20's MPG, I am guessing these will make 40+ MPG on a decent run, but be a similar weight.
Current Polo GTI 180 retails for over £20k so sub £20k for the R is not on, I would expect it to be £23-24k. Currently Fabia vRS and Ibiza Cupra are £3-2.5k cheaper than Polo (on retail, more like £4k with deals/haggling) so a Fabia may creep under the £20k mark retail (£18k after a while and haggling), now that would be a bargain.
That said, this will be a very intersting car which may start a bit of a trend if they sell well with the Fiesta RS and an uprated Clio Sport (now with turbo engine so easier to uprate).
How things have changed in the past 20 years - Sierra Cosworth was the dogs danglies then with a tad over 200hp and 4wd but low 20's MPG, I am guessing these will make 40+ MPG on a decent run, but be a similar weight.
I like the idea but I don't think this will be that good as standard. The Golf Gti Mk7 only weighs 1350kg and the Polo WRC weighs 1250kg. With the Haldex, driveshafts, multi-link suspension, etc all adding weight unless they get creative with weight savings like the Mini JCW GP and remove the rear seats, etc the 'R' Polo will weigh about 1325kg. So it's going to be a tiny bit lighter than a Golf Gti Mk7, a tiny bit more powerful and have a tiny bit more traction over the active diff equipped performance pack Gti.
I don't think it will be cheaper than a Golf GTi to avoid cannabilising sales that's the wrong way to think about it! It will probably be the same price as the basic Golf Gti is, 27K +/-2k, to avoid cannibalising sales! I respect VAG for trying to be interesting and producing a 'pocket rocket' and it sounds like it will be much better value for money than the limited production Polo WRC street and Audi A1 quattro.
If this is coming soon I'm sure Audi will launch an 'S1' a couple of years later which will have a 'nicer' badge, some optional Polo 'R' kit as standard and cost a bit more. That's usually what they do.
Don't know when they are planning to launch that Up! Gt they were going on about two years ago either. WHERES MY UP GT VW?! WHERE?! Maybe they lost it in the car park, it is quite small.
I don't think it will be cheaper than a Golf GTi to avoid cannabilising sales that's the wrong way to think about it! It will probably be the same price as the basic Golf Gti is, 27K +/-2k, to avoid cannibalising sales! I respect VAG for trying to be interesting and producing a 'pocket rocket' and it sounds like it will be much better value for money than the limited production Polo WRC street and Audi A1 quattro.
If this is coming soon I'm sure Audi will launch an 'S1' a couple of years later which will have a 'nicer' badge, some optional Polo 'R' kit as standard and cost a bit more. That's usually what they do.
Don't know when they are planning to launch that Up! Gt they were going on about two years ago either. WHERES MY UP GT VW?! WHERE?! Maybe they lost it in the car park, it is quite small.
Well, it's interesting to note that the Polo GTI weighs 200kg less than the new Golf GTI and 300kg less than the new Golf R. Considering the drivetrain change will be more substantial (bigger engine as well as the haldex and associated parts), i would say you're looking at the weight of the Golf GTI all up.
When you take into consideration drivetrain losses, i'd therefore say it is about neck and neck performance-wise with the Golf GTI. The temptation of course is that the Golf R runs the same engine at 300bhp...
When you take into consideration drivetrain losses, i'd therefore say it is about neck and neck performance-wise with the Golf GTI. The temptation of course is that the Golf R runs the same engine at 300bhp...
As suggested by my good self in the motorsport thread this is a superb idea. Can't wait for it, hopefully will be light enough and powerful enough, its to celebrate a WRC title on their first effort make it a good one !! Hopefully Hyundai or someone else will also follow suit and its only the beginning. Polo R WRC Evo1 sounds good.
As above. It will weight ~1,300kg and have the traditional VAG slant on 4WD and chassis dynamics, although I hope more Golf R than Audi S3...
Hate sounding too negative as performance variants are always welcome, but I don't think it will be as "mental" as you' imagine when you put "Polo" and "2.0 Turbo and 4WD".
Partly also because people now expect the top performance model to come rammed with all the comfort and safety equipment of cheaper models, 18" wheels etc.. If they wanted to make it a properly focused they could of course, but then people would scoff at buying it because it didn't have electric seats or zonal climate control etc.
Hate sounding too negative as performance variants are always welcome, but I don't think it will be as "mental" as you' imagine when you put "Polo" and "2.0 Turbo and 4WD".
Partly also because people now expect the top performance model to come rammed with all the comfort and safety equipment of cheaper models, 18" wheels etc.. If they wanted to make it a properly focused they could of course, but then people would scoff at buying it because it didn't have electric seats or zonal climate control etc.
sounds good>
said:
The roots of the new car can be traced back to the limited edition Audi S1 Quattro launched in 2012 and the Polo R WRC. Volkswagen has worked on further refining the driveline and chassis, with the result that it feels even more focused than either of them.
What impressed us above all else was the overall agility of the Polo R prototype. While it is easy focus on the heady levels of power and the four wheel drive hardware used to channel it to each wheel, it is the new found nimbleness brought on by the adoption of a new multi-link rear suspension that sets it apart from every other Polo model, giving it a far more direct and sporting feel than the front-wheel drive Polo R WRC, which uses a conventional torsion beam rear end.
The Polo R is happy to be pushed hard and responds to quick changes of direction with compelling resolve. There is decent weighting around the straight ahead and a linear build up of resistance as you wind on steering lock. It could do with greater feedback, although so could the electro-mechanical steering of all sixth-generation Polo models.
Traction is strong, both off the line and out of corners, although we’ll need to drive it on bitumen before we can provide a real appraisal of the handling. On ice you don’t even need to resort to the handbrake to have fun. You just throw it into a corner, lift off and then ease back on the throttle to send it into an entertaining drift. In these conditions it is composed and controllable.
The efforts of the engine more than compensate for the added weight brought on by the adoption of four-wheel drive, giving the Polo R urgent acceleration and in gear qualities. Nothing is official just yet, but Volkswagen hints at a 0-100km time of less than six seconds – or half a second faster than the Polo R WRC.
http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/volkswagen-polo-r-first-drive-review-20140123-31abh.htmlWhat impressed us above all else was the overall agility of the Polo R prototype. While it is easy focus on the heady levels of power and the four wheel drive hardware used to channel it to each wheel, it is the new found nimbleness brought on by the adoption of a new multi-link rear suspension that sets it apart from every other Polo model, giving it a far more direct and sporting feel than the front-wheel drive Polo R WRC, which uses a conventional torsion beam rear end.
The Polo R is happy to be pushed hard and responds to quick changes of direction with compelling resolve. There is decent weighting around the straight ahead and a linear build up of resistance as you wind on steering lock. It could do with greater feedback, although so could the electro-mechanical steering of all sixth-generation Polo models.
Traction is strong, both off the line and out of corners, although we’ll need to drive it on bitumen before we can provide a real appraisal of the handling. On ice you don’t even need to resort to the handbrake to have fun. You just throw it into a corner, lift off and then ease back on the throttle to send it into an entertaining drift. In these conditions it is composed and controllable.
The efforts of the engine more than compensate for the added weight brought on by the adoption of four-wheel drive, giving the Polo R urgent acceleration and in gear qualities. Nothing is official just yet, but Volkswagen hints at a 0-100km time of less than six seconds – or half a second faster than the Polo R WRC.
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