Volkswagen plotting 230kW Polo R

Volkswagen is secretly developing a powerful Polo R hot hatch, it has been revealed.

Already reportedly at prototype stage, the Polo R mules being developed are powered by exactly the same 228kW/380Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder as the Golf R (our cars get a hot-weather restricted 213kW).

According to insiders speaking to Brit mag, Autocar, the fastest-ever Polo could come with the same Haldex all-wheel drive as the Golf R.

If so, weighing over 100kg lighter than the Golf, the little Polo R could hit 100km/h in less than four seconds - 0.6sec faster than the larger R model.

Insiders say a faster, smaller hatchback than the Golf R in the all-new Polo range, which goes on sale here next year, is easy to develop because the latest Mk6 super-mini is based on the same MQB architecture as the Golf.

The shared platform has allowed engineers not only to easily repackage the all-wheel drive and Golf R powertrain within the smaller Polo body, but also allowed cost efficiencies not available on the previous model.

Even cooling isn't an issue for the latest Polo, thanks to the work carried out while developing the 147kW Polo GTI that is powered by the current Golf GTI's 2.0-litre turbo engine.

Of course, it's not the first time Volkswagen has strayed into Golf R territory with its small Polo.

Back in 2013 the German car-maker marked its participation in WRC with a 2500-limited-run Polo R WRC. That car came with a 161kW 2.0-litre turbo and front-wheel drive that helped it hit 100km/h in 6.4 seconds.

A year later in 2014, VW celebrated its WRC championship by creating a prototype Polo R with a healthier 184kW turbo 2.0-litre engine and all-wheel drive. Thought to be a re-clothed Audi S1, the fastest-ever Polo never made production.

With development well under way, according to Autocar the only barrier standing in the way for the ultimate Polo entering production is the potential price and performance clash with the Golf R.

Helping force Volkswagen's hand is the fact that other brands in the Volkswagen Group stable now have access to the Golf R engine and could shoe-horn the powerful 228kW turbo four into anything they can find a business case for, including a small hot hatch.