Back in March Volkswagen established a new division to handle development and sales for all future models designated under the company’s R performance label. While the division is still in its early stages, we’ve already seen the first of its fruits in the form of the recently revealed Golf R and Scirocco R sold overseas but you can rest assure that there will be plenty of others.
Next off the bat is expected to be a new Volkswagen Polo R due in 2012. The latest hot hatch should feature a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with around 210 horsepower on tap and drive sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission or optional seven-speed dual clutch DSG.
Volkswagen first gave us a taste of a performance Polo when it revealed the Worthersee 09 Polo GTI concept car and earlier this year the company unveiled the Polo GTI, which comes with an even smaller 1.4-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine pumping out 177 horsepower.
While none of these models have been confirmed for U.S. sale, we do know that the regular Polo will be coming here eventually--in both sedan and hatch bodystyles. Pricing is expected to be around the $14,000 and to maximize profits the American versions will be produced in Mexico. While an actual launch date hasn’t been penciled in, production will most likely start in early 2011.
[Autocar]
