VW celebrates Polo's 50th anniversary with Ken Block-style video (VIDEO)

The Polo is now half a century old and to celebrate the anniversary, Volkswagen invited 7-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristofferson and the three fastest racing performances of the mode piese auto online.

VW celebrates Polo's 50th anniversary with Ken Block-style video (VIDEO)

The Polo is half a century old. In 50 years, the little Volkswagen has achieved great success – on the road, in the hearts of its fans and in motorsport. The Polo is not only one of the brand's most famous models, but also one of its most successful. It has left its indelible mark on history – both as an everyday hero and in racing – with numerous titles in the World Rally Championship and the World Rallycross Championship. Now the legend is back: for the anniversary celebrations, Volkswagen has also brought out the Polo R WRC and Polo R Supercar from the Volkswagen Classic collection and invited the fully electric Polo RX1e of the KMS racing team as a guest.

The 6-minute video features the trio in breathtaking drifts and impressive maneuvers. "With our communication for the Polo anniversary, we want to not only look back, but also forward, and to inspire enthusiasm for the development of the Volkswagen brand. That's why we decided to include the first appearance of the ID. Polo as a surprise in the spectacular production. This film embodies everything that is typical of the Polo - a small car that can achieve great things and looks to the future," says Jens Kattemann, Head of Communications for the Volkswagen brand and Brand Group Core.

In the dynamic video, Johan Kristofferson is behind the wheel of the “runners” – and he proves his class as a top driver with his spectacular performances: the 7-time World Rallycross Champion and two-time Gymkhana Grid Champion skillfully leads the four-wheel drive “runners” in a variety of situations, performing precise drifts. “Filming the video gave me immense pleasure. It was a fantastic experience to drive the racing Polos one after the other and “spin” the engine to the red zone – their characters are different, but their dynamics are equally impressive,” comments Johan Kristofferson, current leader in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Leading director also introduces Polo's hometown

The filming locations were not chosen by chance: Gkeberha, South Africa, has been home to the Polo for several years – the model is produced there for the European market. The cameras captured captivating scenes in the harbor, on a closed highway in the center of Gkeberha, on the Volkswagen test track and at the VW Kariega factory. The clip was directed by John Richards – a long-time Top Gear director with 20 years of experience, one of the most successful in the cinema “on wheels”.

Cars in the classic Polo Harlequin colors

The two older Polos from the 5th generation are wrapped in a special foil: created by the famous designer Sean Bull, it is a reference to the iconic Polo Harlequin. In April, fans could choose one of four designs and after an online vote they chose the foil in the classic Harlequin colors – Broom Yellow, Flash Red, Pistachio and Chagall Blue. Combined with the numerous elements from motorsport, the cars are a real eye-catcher.

A grand finale with a look at the electric future – ID. Polo

At the end, the drift-filled clip sends a clear message. At the end, the future all-electric successor of the model appears: the ID. Polo, which is welcomed by its racing predecessors and shines in the spotlight as a new member of the Polo family, opening an exciting new chapter in its history.

The racing cars in the video:

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

The Polo is half a century old

The 6-minute video features the trio in breathtaking drifts and impressive maneuvers