VW Polo R Line (2012) first official pictures

Sportiness is not a word normally associated with the VW Polo. Even in GTI guise the current VW Polo is a rather sober driving experience compared to more exuberant rivals like the Renaulsport Clio or upcoming Ford Fiesta ST.

There's nothing wrong with that, but with a WRC campaign on the horizon and a sensible-shoes donor car on its hands, Wolfsburg have created the Polo R Line.

If the VW Polo R Line had eyebrows it would have arched one and made a disapproving tut-tutting noise in response to your over-enthusiasm. Taking a cue from Audi's hard-edged S Line accessory range, the VW Polo R Line is a cosmetic package, dressing a standard Polo Match 1.2 TSI in sporting costume. Unlike the conceptually-similar Scirocco R Line, you can only have a Polo R Line with the 1.2-litre petrol engine and six-speed manual transmission.

Outside, the R Line wears new bumpers, deeper sidesills, 16-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 R16 tyres (up 1 inch from the base car), foglamps tinted side windows, and the all-important R Line badging. It's what the cool kids are wearing these days.

Inside, the Polo R Line gets cloth-trimmed sports seats with R Line logo, a three-spoke leather-trimmed sports steering wheel, and fauxluminium sports pedals.

No. The R Line does eschew the Polo GTI's set-and-forget DSG for six-speed manual transmission, but the 102bhp engine and unmodified suspension are not the tools for the job. At £15,195 for the three-door and £15,815 for the five-door, the Polo R Line is more of a Polo SEL equivalent for people who must be seen to be sports-minded. If you like the look, you can order now with deliveries expected from July 2012.

By Mark Hamilton