Auto Expo 2020: Volkswagen unveils Race Polo for upcoming season

• Race Polo gets a 10bhp bump over the Ameo Cup car

• Additional boost of 20bhp with Push to Pass

• Close to production I.D.Crozz showcased

• I.D. Crozz gets a movable light blind

On day 2 of the Auto Expo’s press days, Volkswagen unveiled the Polo Cup car that will feature in the upcoming season of the marquee’s one make series. The Race Polo gets a few improvements over last year’s Ameo based racer. It is powered by a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder, TSI engine that produces 210bhp and 320Nm @ 3200-4600rpm of torque. A Push to Pass option adds another 20bhp on demand. The engine is mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox with a limited-slip differential. The Race Polo gets an electronic shift actuator for quick gear shifts. With a 0-100kmph time of 5.5 seconds and a 225kmph top speed, the Race Polo is high on performance. It gets racing ABS, 2-way adjustable racing suspension, 17-inch forged alloy wheels, launch control and a rear wing. OMP racing seats with a six-point harness along with an integrated roll-cage are also present.

That aside, the company displayed the close-to-production I.D. Crozz concept. Built on VW’s MEB platform for electric cars, the I.D. Crozz is a four-door coupe-SUV. It gets an 83kWh lithium-ion battery, powering the front and rear electric motors, resulting in a combined output of 225kW of power and 450Nm of torque. The I.D. Crozz has a range of over 500km (NEDC cycle) with top speed limited to 180kmph. First showcased in 2017 at the Shanghai motor show, the car has received a number of updates over the years and is expected to receive a few more before the production version is unveiled in April this year.

Augmented reality enabled screens, a heads-up display, mirror that uses the feed from 3 cameras, and a movable light blind that can create ambient lighting on the inside, as well as on the outside of the car, are some of the tech highlights on the SUV. There’s an autonomous driving mode too that can be activated by voice command or by pressing the VW logo displayed prominently on the steering.

From the outside, there are no updates from when it was last showcased, with the distinctive I.D. light signature holding pride of place on the minimalist front. The swooping roofline and 21-inch wheels too continue to be present. And so do the cameras that take the place of the wing mirrors. As a part of its massive electrification push, VW is expected to launch the I.D. Crozz as a halo car in India next year.