220hp VW Polo WRC Street concept unveiled

Volkswagen has unveiled its Polo WRC Street concept at the 31st GTI meeting at Wöthersee – an annual event held in Austria for fans of sporty VWs.

The Polo WRC Street concept’s motto is “from motor racing to the street” and is inspired by the German automaker’s Polo R WRC World Rally Championship race car.

VW to enter WRC with Polo R

First Drive: Volkswagen Polo GTI 1.4 DSG (2010 onwards)

Arrival: Volkswagen Polo GTI long-termer

Despite being released initially in concept form, Volkswagen has confirmed the WRC Street will actually be put into series production at the end of 2013 and will preview an upcoming more focused Polo R model.

The WRC Street receives a tweaked version of the larger Golf GTI’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine – it has been tuned to produce 220hp in the new Polo, 10hp more than its performance-focused Golf sibling.

With more power than the Golf GTI and with over 120kg less weight, expect the Polo WRC Street to eclipse the larger hatchback’s 6.9-second 0-62mph time. Volkswagen has not confirmed whether the new car will available with its six-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission, though.

To match the Polo’s newfound performance, the VW supermini has been equipped with a sporty body kit, incorporating a deeper front air dam, and a diffuser and boot lip spoiler at the rear.

Larger alloy wheels are controlled by new sports suspension, while a motorsport-inspired paint job – featuring R-WRC inscriptions – completes the styling and engineering alterations.

The WRC Street follows the recently released Polo R Line – a junior version of VW’s GTI supermini featuring the firm’s economical 1.2 turbo petrol engine.

VW to enter WRC with Polo R

First Drive: Volkswagen Polo GTI 1.4 DSG (2010 onwards)

Arrival: Volkswagen Polo GTI long-termer