Volkswagen has introduced its WRC version of the Polo R that will make its rally debut in Monte Carlo at the beginning of next year on January 15. The car will be driven by Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala. Power comes from a 4-cylinder 1.6-liter turbo engine capable of generating 311 HP and a peak torque of 313 lb-ft (425 Nm). Power is sent to all four wheels with the help of a 6-speed sequential gearbox. The AWD system benefits from a fixed drive between the axles, along with limited multi-plate slip differentials for both front and rear. It is able to perform the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in 3.9 seconds and can reach a maximum speed of almost 125 mph (200 km/h).
In order to lower the curb weight as much as possible, Volkswagen’s engineers installed carbon-Kevlar tailgate, doors and wheel arch extensions that have allowed the car to have a curb weight of just 2,645 lbs (1,200 kg). To reach this figure, the dashboard was entirely stripped while the seats had to be moved a little bit in the back to provide the Polo R WRC with a better weight distribution, very important in the world of rallying.
Compared to a stock Polo, the WRC version is 138mm wider, measuring a total width of 1,820mm. It is important to mention that development took more than 17 months and for this project the German brand collaborated with rally driver Carlos Sainz.
Source: Volkswagen Motorsport
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