THREE MOMENTS OF MADNESS FROM VW’S HOT HATCH PAST

Polo R WRC

The Polo has always played second fiddle to the Golf in VW’S hot hatch rankings, but the 217bhp Polo R WRC gave it the moment in the sun it rather needed, albeit fleetingly. Only 2500 were built, in line with the FIA’S homologation rules.

Golf Rallye

The retro VW holy trinity: box flared wheel arches, G-scroll supercharger and Syncro allwheel drive. The Golf Rallye was another homologation special and only 5000 were built, with 100 making it to the UK. Think of it as the Golf R’s long-lost grandfather.

Beetle RSI

VW’S signature sensibility found an outlet for the irrational in the Beetle RSI — a V6-engined four-wheel-drive first-generation ‘new’ Beetle, which acted as a precursor to the Golf R32. Unfortunately, though, Volkswagne capped production at just 250.