Volkswagen Polo R to arrive in 2012

The car will be produced by Volkswagen's newly formed R Performance Division, to go along with the Golf R and Scirocco R in Volkswagen's range of performance vehicles. The Polo R will sit above the Polo GTI, which will go on sale later this year.

The Polo GTI was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March, which has a 1.4-litre TSI that produces 180bhp and 249Nm of torque when mated to Volkswagen's 7-Speed DSG transmission. The Polo R is expected to have a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with around 210bhp.

Unlike its bigger brother the Golf R, the Polo R will not be available with four-wheel-drive, as the Polo's PQ25 platform does not allow such a setup. Volkswagen is preparing the car in time for a launch date of 2012.