VW's Polo R WRC is a 220HP, €33,900 Celebration of its Entry into World Rallying [106 Photos]

Like every year, the 2013 World Rally Championship’s first race will be the Monte Carlo Rally. Even though the event won’t start until January 15, VW chose the Principality to host the launch of both its 2013 WRC racer and the road-going version that will make its motor show debut at next year’s Geneva Salon.

The Polo R WRC, which was displayed last March as a concept during the Wörthersee Tour festival, is a limited edition based on VW’s supermini that will be produced in just 2,500 units priced at US$33,900 (US$43,800) a pop. The order books open on Tuesday, December 11, though the first customers won’t receive their cars until September 2013.

A white paint job with blue and grey stripes, an aggressive front bumper with large intakes that’s supposed to echo that of the racer’s, 18-inch “Cagliari” wheels with 215/35 tires and a rear roof spoiler and diffuser make this limited edition Polo stand out from lesser versions.

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In Russia, You Need to be Careful of Boats Hovering Over the Road…

Adding to the long list of hazardous objects one needs to be prepared to address while driving on Russian roads is boats - yes, you read that correctly.

Following a video with a boat on a trailer passing a car, which hit the interwebs earlier in the summer, we now have a second related incident that was captured on film.

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Volkswagen UK Prices New Polo BlueGT with Cylinder Deactivation System

The Polo BlueGT is the first Volkswagen model equipped with the company's new 1.4-liter TSI engine featuring the ACT cylinder deactivation system to be offered in Britain. Available to order from today, it costs £17,400 on the road with deliveries expected in mid-December.

At the heart of the car is VW's new 1.4-liter TSI EA211 turbocharged petrol engine that delivers 138hp (140PS) and 250 Nm (185 lb-ft) of torque.

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Volkswagen's Scorching Hot Polo R with 2.0-liter Turbo Confirmed for a Geneva Show Premiere

The people at Volkswagen see Renault's and Peugeot's bet with their new Clio RS and 208 GTi respectively, both of which are powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four with 197hp, and raise them by another 20-horsepower for a grand total of 217hp with the brand's upcoming Polo R.

VW had previewed the car with the Polo R WRC Street concept at this year's Wörthersee Tour in Austria back in May, confirming the launch of a production model in late 2013.

Now, the automaker's R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg has told Autocar magazine that the Polo R will make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 2013.

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VW Opens Up New Plant in China with an Annual Capacity of 300,000 Vehicles

As the Volkswagen Group's largest market, the Germans want to maintain the momentum in China by opening a new plant for Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW) in Yizheng, situated in the eastern part of the country.

Construction of the new manufacturing facility that has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles began in July of 2010 and was completed earlier this month ahead of schedule.

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Volkswagen Polo WRC Jumps, Pounces and Roars Through Finnish Forest

There are far too many reasons to list why so many people are addicted to the World Rally Championship, but if you insist, then maybe this video of Sebastien Ogier test driving the new Volkswagen Polo WRC in Finland will provide some answers. Read more »