PoloDriver

The Polo ended 2012 on a high in the UK, taking the eighth spot in the country’s best-selling cars chart. With a tally of 41,901 examples sold over the year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) report that the small Volkswagen sat at number 10 in the figures for December 2012. Private registrations saw the 2012 UK market boosted by 100,000 sales, with volumes up a total of 3.7 per cent. It was the highest annual set of figures recorded since 2008, at 2,044,609 units. Superminis were up 5.6 per cent, with the Ford Fiesta taking the 2012 bestseller crown, with 109,265 units.

‘More than two million new cars were registered in the UK during 2012, up 5.3 per cent on the previous 12 months and the best result since recession struck in 2008,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘Boosted by strong consumer demand, the market grew at its fastest rate for 11 years with innovative, fuel-efficient cars keeping buyers in showrooms.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during December 2012 and for 2012 as a whole (unit sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Focus: 5265 (83,115, 3rd)
2 Vauxhall Astra: 5112 (63,023, 4th)
3 Ford Fiesta: 4977 (109,265, 1st)
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 4510 (89,434, 2nd)
5 BMW 1 Series: 3196 (34,488, 10th)
6 BMW 3 Series: 3181 (44,521, 7th)
7 Mini: 3143
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2840 (45,675, 6th)
9 Volkswagen Golf: 2556 (62,021, 5th)
10 Volkswagen Polo: 2500 (41,901, 8th)

(The 2012 top 10 best-selling car absent from last month’s sales figures is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in ninth place with 37,261 units sold.)

According to reports over the past week, Volkswagen is considering a four-wheel drive of the Polo after all. UK outlet Autocar suggested in an interview with Ulrich Hackenburg, Head of Research and Development at Volkswagen and a leading light in the Polo R WRC campaign, that an AWD variation could be suited some markets, and would undoubtedly be welcomed as the Polo R WRC competition car takes to the global rally stages.

The front-wheel drive Polo R WRC Street was unveiled last month. The most powerful and fastest production Polo to date, the limited edition R WRC Street’s chassis handles 218bhp from its 2.0-litre TSI engine. Volkswagen Group has already produced a four-wheel drive version of the PQ25 chassis which underpins the group’s superminis – the £41,035 Audi A1 quattro develops 252bhp, so there’s scope for yet more power.

Volkswagen has issued numerous denials when asked about the availability of both four-wheel drive and ‘R’ versions of the Polo, but now the R WRC Street has appeared, maybe, just maybe, there’s room for the ultimate halo Polo model, which would also neatly sit alongside the competition car. Autocar states that as the €33.900 2500-example Polo R WRC Street has appeared at the beginning of the competition car’s three-year campaign, rumours are rife that a more powerful four-wheel drive road car could indeed follow.

Similarly to 2011, the most exciting Polo news of 2012 was the unveiling of the Polo R WRC in final competition trim. Other motorsport series also continued around the world, with the Polo competing as both a rally and track car. As far as the road car was concerned, it still continued to win awards and post strong sales figures in the UK and further afield. A number of special editions were launched in various markets, while the 218bhp Polo R WRC ‘Street’ – the most powerful production and the most expensive Polo ever – was announced. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month.)

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The €33.900 2013 Polo R WRC is just the latest in a line of limited-run Polos made by Volkswagen. An admittedly small line, the German manufacturer has, when it has seen fit, produced special runs of go-faster Polos, inspired by, or to celebrate, motorsport success. The Polo R WRC heralds the arrival of the Polo R WRC competition car which makes its debut in the World Rally Championship next year, and will see only 2500 left-hand drive examples leave the Volkswagen’s R GmbH skunkworks. It may well be the most powerful production Polo ever with 218bhp, but it’s not the first. An even more focused motorsport-inspired Polo left Volkswagen Individual’s production line eight years ago – say hello to the Club Sport.

The Polo Club Sport celebrated the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup, a one-make series which visited the race tracks of Germany from 2004-2009. The race cars were proper, stripped-out tintops, powered by 1984cc, 148bhp FSI engines. It differed by having 30bhp more, courtesy of its 1.8-litre, turbocharged engine, ubiquitous in the Volkswagen Group range of cars at the time. A strict two-seater, Volkswagen encouraged potential owners to ‘Experience the fascination of motorsport’. It stated that ‘Stamina, concentration and enthusiasm’ were all part of the Polo Club Sport’s make-up, and going on looks alone, it appeared it could deliver.

Largely identical to the Polo Cup racers, the Club Sport featured external add-ons such as front and rear spoilers, side skirts, 17-inch ‘Aristo’ alloy wheels borrowed from the Golf R32 fitted with 205/45 R17 Dunlop tyres, and a sports-tuned exhaust. Colour choice was as limited as the car itself, with only Flash Red, Reflex Silver and Yellow being the available hues. Inside, the Club Sport was equally as focused. Two Recaro racing seats featured Schroth harnesses, while Alcantara was liberally applied to the headlining, pillar trim, luggage space and steering wheel (which later appeared without the suede-like material in the Polo Fun/Dune). A half-roll cage painted in the body colour completed the motorsport accoutrements, while a numbered plaque informed the driver of his/her place in the very limited production run.

How limited? That’s where the details of the Polo Club Sport get sketchy. Although brochures were dated May 2004, there seem to be no details on prices, production figures (exact or approximate), or whether the car only available to Polo Cup drivers, or the wider general public. We would hope it was the latter, but whatever was the true case, the Polo Club Sport remains arguably the most motorsport-focused road Polo there’s ever been, and has the potential to wipe the smile off the faces of those who think Volkswagen’s premium small hatch is best suited for those shopping runs to the local supermarket. You could drive to the shops in the Polo Club Sport of course, but you’d just have to go via the race track first…

2004 VOLKSWAGEN POLO CLUB SPORT

Engine: 1781cc four-cylinder petrol with turbocharger
Power: 178bhp/132kW (180PS)
Gearbox: Five-speed manual (MQ 250-5F)
Wheels/tyres: 17-inch ‘Aristo’ alloy wheels/Dunlop 205/45 R17 tyres
Exterior: motorsport front and rear spoilers, side skirts, sports-tuned exhaust
Interior: Alcantara-trimmed pillar trim, luggage space, roof lining and steering wheel, half roll cage, numbered dashboard plaque.

[Additional images: AutoBild.de]