VW Polo R WRC To Contest World Rally Championship in 2013

WOLFSBURG, Germany — Volkswagen has unveiled what it calls "the hottest Polo of all time" — the new Polo R WRC, the racecar with which it plans to contest the FIA World Rally Championship in 2013.

"We are working on this project with the same passion with which we won the Dakar Rally in the past three years," said VW Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

The automaker also released a video of the Polo R WRC, which is based on the current-generation Polo that was introduced two years ago in Europe.

VW said the Polo R WRC will be equipped with four-wheel drive and a race-prepped version of the turbocharged 1.6-liter TSI four-cylinder engine developing nearly 300 horsepower. FIA rules this year specify a new engine formula with turbocharging, direct injection and displacement of no more than 1.6 liters.

"The timing of the WRC debut (of the Polo R) is optimal for Volkswagen," said VW board member Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, adding, "The new technical regulations of the World Rally Championship are an ideal fit for Volkswagen's philosophy with respect to the development of production vehicles. Downsizing, high efficiency and reliability are top priorities for our customers.... The big task of engineering a vehicle that is competitive and capable of winning at a large number of challenges holds great appeal for us."

Inside Line says: VW is building on a tradition that dates back to the mid-1980s, when the GTI dominated Group A rallying.