New look for the Volkswagen Polo R5
The Volkswagen Polo R5 has a new look; and it’s a good look too. The final livery for the 272PS ultimate ‘clubman’ rally car is a reinterpretation of the Golf GTI TCR touring car.
“The Polo GTI R5 looks really exciting,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets, about the four-wheel drive car for rally customers.
Lucky customers will take delivery of the first cars from November. From there the Polo R5 will compete in international and national rally championships. The rallying community eagerly awaits the Polo R5. After all, Volkswagen Motorsport was hugely successful in the WRC.
Nico Mühr, Exterior Design Volkswagen, describes the philosophy behind the dynamic look of the Polo R5. “We purposely used many of the design elements from the production vehicles of the GTI family for the Polo R5.”
“In addition to the typical colours of red, white, black and the distinctive line on the front grill, it is the GTI icons with their honeycomb structure in particular that give the rally Polo its distinctive look.”
“Ultimately, the Polo GTI R5, despite its extreme rally look, remains clearly identifiable as – no doubt the fastest – member of the Polo family.”
20 months of development
The bonnet conceals a 1.6-litre turbo engine with direct injection. That enables the five-door car weighing just under 1,230 kg to accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds.
The Polo R5 has a development period of 20 months behind it. It has completed test drives of over 10,000 km in all manner of climatic conditions. This diligence is due in part to the regulations.
“Only minimal technical modifications are allowed to be made to an R5 during the specified motorsport lifetime of five years,” explained Gerard Jan de Jongh, Technical Project Lead Polo GTI R5. “This is why we prepared ourselves as well and thoroughly as possible.”
