Rally-Spec Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 Unveiled; Race Debut In 2019
Volkswagen has officially unveiled its new rally-spec Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 customer race car. The new rally GTI is based on the new sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo made its first public debut early this week at the official driving presentation of the Polo GTI in Mallorca, Spain on Monday evening. After having won the WRC competition for four years in a row (2013-2016), early this year the German carmaker announced that it will no longer be competing in the championship. As the company had mentioned when it released the teaser image of the car last month, the new Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 has been going through some rigorous tests. Initial tests on asphalt and gravel took place in mid-November in Fontjoncouse, France, and will continue in Great Britain in December. For its public debut, Volkswagen dressed in the new Polo GTI R5 is bold race livery with flared bodywork and rally kit, sporty alloys, and larger spoiler at the rear. To make it rally worthy, Volkswagen has equipped the car with a steel chassis that has been strengthened with a roll cage and other safety components. As for the powertrain, the Polo GTI R5 borrows the 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine from the road-spec Polo GTI but in a tuned avatar. In the GTI R5, the engine makes additional 83 horses bringing the total to 268 bhp, while developing a peak torque of 400 Nm. The motor comes mated to a close-stepped, sequential, five-speed racing gearbox along with a permanent four-wheel drive system. Together they enable the Polo GTI R5 to offer outstanding acceleration on any surface - whether asphalt, gravel or snow, and allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 4.1 seconds.
Networked with this are numerous other electronic modules such as the anti-lock braking (ABS), hill hold control, anti-slip regulation (ASR), engine drag torque control (MSR) and electronic differential locks (EDS). Tyre pressure is also sensed by the standard tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). A modern extension of familiar EDS functions is the XDS electronic transverse differential lock, like the one Volkswagen presented for the first time on the Golf GTI. XDS improves handling through fast curves and calibrates the car to be more "neutral", since it prevents slip of the unloaded wheel at the inside of the curve by active brake intervention, improving traction. This system, standard equipment on the VW Polo GTI, accesses existing sensor data such as steering wheel angle, yaw rate and wheel speeds. The effect: more safety and driving fun, because the Volkswagen Polo GTI steers even more precisely with XDS. The new top model in the Polo range is easy to recognize as a GTI at first glance - inside and outside.
It openly displays the visual insignia of this unique badge. Exterior: Here the sportiest Polo stands out from the crowd with the two classic red trim strips on its radiator grille. From its role model - the larger Golf GTI - it has adopted the honeycomb structure of the air inlets inserts in the uniquely styled front apron. Also GTI-specific are the fender flares and the rear spoiler painted in body colour. Two other features are available as options for the first time on the new Polo GTI in this model series: the electrically operated panoramic tilt/slide sunroof extending back to the B-pillars, and the completely new layout of the bi-xenon headlights. As mentioned previously, also integrated in the dual headlights were the LED daytime running lights, corner marker lights and cornering lights. Interior: Here too the 180-PS Polo impresses with genuine GTI ambiance. Moreover, the extensive list of standard features emphasise that sportiness and comfort are not incompatible concepts in the new VW Polo GTI.
VW owners: does VW still has the bad reputation it has earned on reliability? The reason I am asking is because I am considering either a 2010 GTI or GLI as a new car, but I've heard polarizing opinions about VW in general. They are either 'junk', or as good as any other car, as far as reliability is concerned. So I'd like to know what your experiences are as an owner. What year/model VW you have and how's it working for you so far. It just seems I read here often of people having older VW's that are plagued w/ issues. They are fine for many yrs when they are new. But so many people buy the GTI thinking it's the best car on the planet. VWs aren't perfect but they aren't complete junk. European cars tend to be the less reliable than american or japanese cars. Their repair costs are higher and they don't hold their value as well as the others do. I'm a VW enthusiast but I cannot recommend them to people that aren't into driving.
Manual trans VWs tend to be more reliable also get engines available in other countries. I guess it depends on where you live and if they are very patriotic. For instance you'll hear that American cars are reliable but ask anyone who isn't American and they'll say American cars are only just better than UK cars with exception of Ford. I have always heard that VW are bullet proof but there you go. I have a close friend with a 2002 Passat V6 with 80K miles on it. It really didnt give him much problem. But when it does break, it cost him an arm and leg to repair it. Even a freaking windshield wiper cost a lot more than standard one. Here is something you should consider, Turbo Charged car are awful on reliability rating most of the time, which you are consider buying. Just keep in mind, The German cars have superiority on driving experience over other brands, However, the Cost of Ownership is a lot higher.
