Volkswagen has unveiled the first drivable prototype of the Polo R WRC that will be used to launch the testing programme this year in preparation for the FIA World Rally championship.
In 2013 Volkswagen will start to contest the top rally racing category, thus setting new aims for the brand after three consecutive victories in the Dakar Rally.
Volkswagen motorsport director Kris Nissen said: “In February we started designing the vehicle concept for the Polo R WRC. Now we’re already in a position to present the first ready-to-run vehicle that will subsequently be used in extensive tests - an important step in our preparations for the WRC entry in 2013,” says
The Polo R WRC is based on the Volkswagen Polo. Its centrepiece is a 1.6-litre TSI engine that uses direct injection and turbocharging and delivers a power output of about 220kW and maximum torque of about 350Nm. Power is transmitted to the wheels by a sequential gearbox and all-wheel drive.
The weight-optimised Polo R WRC also has a complex safety cage and, last but not least, an aerodynamically optimised outer shell. - Motoring Staff