No Polo R to be released - VW Germany statement

[DeanB]

Looks like there will not be a Polo R anywhere in the world as VW do not want to have it compete directly with the Audi S1 !

It is also interesting what they say about the engine kW output.

Source

Audi S1 knocks out Polo R
STEPHEN OTTLEY IN GERMANY
May 19, 2010 - 9:29AM


Volkswagen’s R performance division rules out special treatment for new Polo to protect upcoming Audi S1, but fast Jetta sedan is confirmed.

Volkswagen has ruled out developing a faster, more sports-oriented R version of the new Polo to avoid clashing with the new Audi S1 due in 2011. But a high-performance version of the Jetta is on the way.

When Volkswagen established its stand-alone high-performance R division earlier this year there was intense speculation that a Polo R would join the Golf R in the line-up. But speaking at the launch on the new Polo GTI in Germany, the car's technical chief, Dr Ernst Linder, ruled out adding more performance to the baby VW.

"I would say there have been some ideas about [Polo R], but more in the press than the company itself because we have our GTI and within our company Audi has an S1," Linder said.

"The S1 topped our GTI and to put a car above both, we think we'll not have the volume to make it interesting. It would be too small amount of cars we can sell like this."

Linder confirmed that the S1 will be powered by the same 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged engine used in the Polo GTI. It will also share the same seven-speed double-clutch gearbox and, unlike the rest of Audi's S models, will be front-wheel drive.

Linder admitted that producing a car to out-perform the S1 wouldn't make financial sense as it would need a more powerful engine, which would require an expensive all-wheel-drive system.

"From the technical point-of-view, of course we can do something, but from the financial point-of-view it makes not so much sense," he said. "It would be too expensive and we have the S1. The S1 will have 136kW and it's a very sporty car. If we put much more horsepower in the [Polo], we need something like four-wheel-drive. This is a technical feature that is very expensive."

Linder did confirm that work was underway on a Jetta R but with a new model expected to arrive next year the performance model is still at least a year away.

Linder didn't reveal any technical details of the Jetta R but – given the basic Jetta is essentially a sedan version of the Golf hatch - it is tipped to use the same 2.0-litre turbo engine and all-wheel drive set-up from the Golf R.

Linder also revealed that the 1.4-litre twin-charge engine is reaching its peak performance in its current guise.

"I think with the 136kW in the Audi S1 I think the engine is reaching the borderline," he said. "I think you could get some more out of it but I don't think anymore than 10 or 20kW."

[team_v]

A Jetta R would be pretty cool, boot space + powah!
Sort of like a mini R36 sedan.

The polo r was never really going to be a hit without AWD and with minimal power gain over a GTI version which could be chipped up to above R level power and cost much less.

The main issue with the Polo R is the fact it's in Golf pricing figures but won't offer any extra benefit.

[phaeton]

Thanks for posting Dean

[pog]

At least the aftermarket parts will be interchangeable, that counts for something.

[lunar1]

Aww... that's a bummer. No AWD in a little beast wearing the VW badge.

The remarks about the engine performance make me wonder if based in science of the road or marketing...IE, will chipping a dual turbo Polo GTI make the non-straightline driveability poor? Accepting that a clever right foot can only bring you so far..

[noone]

I think it comes back to the price point. They don't want the Polo to inhibit on the Golf market as it is a stronger market.

If they did make the Polo R, it would need a good LSD (not a pretend one that applies brakes to the spinning wheel) to be able to use the power. The stock suspension setup of the current GTI is useless when the car is chipped and I think that to make the Polo R work, it would need some quality suspension / chassis design and torque limiting.

I do love the little Polo, but there is only so much you can do with FWD...

The new Polo is supercharged and turbo charged (supercharged to supplement the low RPM and turbo for the higher RPM). If you want answers, look to the other cars using this engine.

[goodfella]

Jetta R - awesome.

Finally a Jetta with proper cred (no offence meant to those Jetta 147 drivers) but no doubt it will be the same old formula S3 sedan like the Golf used

[pog]

Jetta R - awesome.

Finally a Jetta with proper cred (no offence meant to those Jetta 147 drivers) but no doubt it will be the same old formula S3 sedan like the Golf used

I agree. The Jetta always seemed to have an understated position in the VW line-up. I mean, it was there, it was just never recognised as much. With this news, it'll be a force not to be reckoned with!

[team_v]

I agree. The Jetta always seemed to have an understated position in the VW line-up. I mean, it was there, it was just never recognised as much. With this news, it'll be a force not to be reckoned with!

Still no match for an S2000 with more than 100k under the hood LAWL!!!!!

[anthony]

I might need to change my yet to be delivered Honda vEuro for a Jetta R in a few years time ???