Half a century ago, Volkswagen’s pint-sized Polo first rolled onto the scene as the sensible sibling to the Golf. Now, five decades later, the little hatch with the big trophy cabinet is celebrating its birthday the only way that feels right: sideways. To mark the occasion, Volkswagen staged a tire-smoke tribute in South Africa featuring three of the fiercest Polos ever built—and capped it with a surprise glimpse at what’s next.

The short film, directed by Top Gear veteran Jon Richards, puts the spotlight on the Polo R WRC, the Polo R Supercar, and the all-electric Polo RX1e. The trio lights up industrial backdrops around Gqeberha—the Polo’s longtime home—sliding through the harbor, a closed highway, and even the factory grounds. At the wheel: Johan Kristoffersson, seven-time World Rallycross champ, two-time Gymkhana Grid winner, and a man who looks born to countersteer.

Kristoffersson doesn’t hold back. The 315-horsepower Polo R WRC reminds us why it dominated the rally world between 2013 and 2016, bagging four drivers’ titles with Sébastien Ogier. Then comes the brutal 570-horsepower Polo R Supercar, the machine Kristoffersson himself used to snatch back-to-back WRX titles in 2017 and 2018. Finally, the electric future arrives with the 680-horsepower Polo RX1e, a torque-heavy missile that has already carried him to two more world championships. Each car is dressed in a Harlekin livery chosen by fans—a playful throwback to one of the Polo’s quirkiest cult models.

Volkswagen’s head of communications Jens Katemann says the goal wasn’t just nostalgia but a handoff. That handoff comes in the grand finale, when the smoke clears and a new silhouette slides into frame: the upcoming ID. Polo. This EV successor, kept under wraps until now, takes a bow alongside its gas and electric forebears—marking the start of the Polo’s next 50 years.

For a model that’s always punched above its weight, the message is clear. The Polo may be small, but it’s never been afraid to dream big—or drift bigger.

Source: Volkswagen