Volkswagen hints at Polo’s more powerful four-wheel drive future
According to reports over the past week, Volkswagen is considering a four-wheel drive of the Polo after all. UK outlet Autocar suggested in an interview with Ulrich Hackenburg, Head of Research and Development at Volkswagen and a leading light in the Polo R WRC campaign, that an AWD variation could be suited some markets, and would undoubtedly be welcomed as the Polo R WRC competition car takes to the global rally stages.
The front-wheel drive Polo R WRC Street was unveiled last month. The most powerful and fastest production Polo to date, the limited edition R WRC Street’s chassis handles 218bhp from its 2.0-litre TSI engine. Volkswagen Group has already produced a four-wheel drive version of the PQ25 chassis which underpins the group’s superminis – the £41,035 Audi A1 quattro develops 252bhp, so there’s scope for yet more power.
Volkswagen has issued numerous denials when asked about the availability of both four-wheel drive and ‘R’ versions of the Polo, but now the R WRC Street has appeared, maybe, just maybe, there’s room for the ultimate halo Polo model, which would also neatly sit alongside the competition car. Autocar states that as the €33.900 2500-example Polo R WRC Street has appeared at the beginning of the competition car’s three-year campaign, rumours are rife that a more powerful four-wheel drive road car could indeed follow.
