Volkswagen shows off 200kW AWD Polo R5 rally car

Volkswagen Motorsport has released new pictures of its all-new Polo GTI R5 created for customer teams competing in the WRC2 rally championship.

Claimed to be based on next year's new sixth-generation Polo hatch, the GTI R5 ditches the road car's 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo for a turbocharged 1.6-litre powerplant that complies with FIA regulation.

Despite its lesser swept capacity, it produces a punchy 200kW/400Nm.

Combined with permanent four-wheel drive and a close-ratio five-speed sequential gearbox (instead of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission), the Polo GTI R5 can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.1 seconds -- 2.6sec faster than the 147kW Polo GTI road car.

To meet FIA regulations, the rally car must be based on the road car's body and four-door chassis, but the Polo's shell is strengthened and stiffened before a full roll cage and all the necessary safety equipment is added.

And, to compete in WRC2, each rally car must weigh in at a mandatory 1320kg.

Ensuring it's ready for the second half of 2018, Volkswagen Motorsport began testing the sixth-gen Polo GTI R5 last month in France on both road and gravel. More tests will continue in the UK throughout this month.

Introduced to the WRC in 2012, the R5 category cars have become the go-to rally motorsport for young WRC hopefuls and privateers. Currently five other manufacturers -- Ford, Citroen (DS), Peugeot, Toyota and Proton -- have developed vehicles for next year's WRC2.