VW Reveals Polo R WRC and WRC Street in Monte Carlo

VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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revealed the Polo R WRCVolkswagen Polo R-WRCGermany, 2012 > present6 photos
and Polo R WRC StreetVolkswagen Polo R WRC StreetGermany, 2012 > present5 photos
in Monte Carlo on December 8. Drivers Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia drove the car to the presentation between the Casino and Hotel de Paris with the slogan "The rally starts here." The car will make its competition debut at the Rally Monte Carlo on January 17. The Polo R WRC Street will be limited to 2,500 units worldwide and orders will open on December 11.

The Polo R WRC produces 311hp and 425Nm (313lb-ft) from its 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a six-speed sequential gearbox and all-wheel drive. The car can accelerate to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds. 

The WRC team's other drivers will be Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila and Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula. Ogier and Latvala have won seven combined WRC rallies in their careers. Mikkelsen has taken two titles in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. 

“The FIA World Rally Championship offers Volkswagen the opportunity to prove its sporty qualities in an environment, in which our cars have always been at home: on real streets,” said Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, head of motorsport at Volkswagen.

Polo R WRC Street

The Polo R WRC Street is the road going replica to the WRC car but with 217hp and front-wheel drive. The car is styled to look like the WRC car. All of the cars will come in white with blue/green stripes and 18in wheels. The car has a front bumper with larger air intakes, a rear roof spoiler and rear diffuser. 

It has a 2.0-liter TSI engine with 217hp and 350Nm (258lb-ft). The only transmission will be a six-speed manual. The car takes 6.4 seconds to get to 100km/h, and the top speed is 243km/h (150mph). It uses 7.5l/100km (31.3mpg US) and emits 174g/km of CO2. 

The interior is covered in Alcantara including the steering wheel and seats. The car also has a black roof cover and aluminum pedals. It also gets cruise control, a front center arm rest, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, a navigation system, heated seats, headlight cleaners and heated windshield washers. 

Jacky Ickx and Carlos Sainz presented the car. Prices will start at €33,900 and deliveries will begin in September. The cars will only be available in Europe.