Volkswagen Harlequin '1995-96

'Dope Dub'

One of the original Harlequin Golf's with some neat touches. Source:canibeat.com

Nike Air force one's. Source:undergroundsoles.com

What happens in serious car company's assembly line when two dope heads get bored... "Chee, dude you have cool sneakers!" "Thanks bro, just stood 36 hours in line for these limited editions" "Wouldn't it be cool to have multi-colored Golf instead of these plain ones?" Yeah, would match ya shoes!" Hey man let's get busy, I have an idea, I'm sick of this shit anyway...

Based on this little trick in 1996 Volkswagen magazine ad said, “Can’t decide on a color? Try a Harlequin Golf.”  Thought, VW had difficulties to get all these 264 bizarre coloured Golf's sold and marketing department had to work their ass off before understanding the great marketing potential of these head turning creations: looks like a joke so let's call it a Harlequin and use it as a show stopper promoting different colour options and then sell it as a collectibles. 

Original ad pic. Source:rossvw.com

Not really, but almost, only the two dope heads were not involved. The original idea of the Harlequin Polo was to show that the Polo can be customimzed for your personal taste with paintwork, engine, chassis, interior, and optional equipment options.

Colour chart of the Harlequin models. Source: thetruthaboutcars.com

So, it started with Polo's back in 1995 when VW produced a limited series of 1000, but after positive feedback they procude some 2800 pieces more. Each body panel was painted with different colour: Flash red, Ginster yellow, Pistachio green and Chagall blue and cars had a "joker" interior with 90's style pattern. The Harlequins were produced by swapping the body panels of four different colored cars. They are usually designated by their base color (the color of the car with no body panels attached) and the base color is not repeated on any of the other body parts. 

After Polo's success VW decided to make the same trick in States with mk3 Golf and released the limited series that became the ultimate rare VW. Most of the Harlequin Golf's are listed in Harlequin Golf registry, maintained by the VW maniac owning five harlequin golfs and 52 Volkswagens! Seems to be that the same trick was repeated third time in Brasil with a VW Gol. All the cars are totally standard, except the colour scheme, but as Wolf cars stands for ultimate rare cars this needs to be featured.

Polo Harlequin ad. Source: polodriver.com

In details (Golf):

Engine
- R4, 1984cc, 8-valve (2E/ABA/ADY/AGG)

Numbers
- 115hp/5400rpm
- 166Nm/3200rpm
- 0-100Km/h: 9,9s
- Top speed: 210Km/h

- Coefficient of drag: 0,32

Transmission
- 5 speed manual or auto, FWD
 
Chassis
- Several different wheel options, e.g. cabrio alloys
- Discs front and drums rear

Exterior
- Limited edition Harlequin paint scheme

- U.S model bumbers and tailgate for narrow license plate

Interior
- Harlequin sport cloth seats
- Silver faced dials

Other
- Polo: Originally limited to 1,000, but most probably 3,806 produced

- Golf: 264 produced 

- Gol: ???

How about this harlequin RS4 from Woerthersee 2011? Source: peace534.pixnet.net

VW Beetle RSi Cabrio '2003

'Ladybird'

Source: cyberbeetle.de

Ladybird -comes to my mind when thinking about 1st generation new beetle, it's maybe the most playful car ever made, especially the cabrio. Design is caricature of rounded car, were the another option would be boxy Volvo 700 from the eighties. Shape doesn't respect the original, but it's easily discovered as Beetle, because there's no another design that comes even close to Beetles characteristics. But there's nothing playful of driving the car, except the smiley faces of people questioning your libido and sense of style. Yes, it's just another Golf with fulsome retro styling and safe, but not thrilling driving experience. Luckily, Dub guys saved some mushrooms when drawing the lines and decided create the RSi -version to boost the sales and make New Beetle behave according to cartoon appear.

Source: beetle.cabriolets.online.fr

Formula is familiar among Wolf Cars. Take the basic chassis, install powerful lump (from the Golf R32 and originally from TT), ensure safety with four-wheel drive, tweak exterior and interior and vòla wolf car it is! With this limited edition of 250 units the exterior and interior styling is exceptionally successful with the wide body, huge wing, and tasty orange leather interior with carbon detailing. I have never driven RSi, but according to press added aggressive didn't help and RSi don't drive like it should, even there's rumours that Porsche was involved in chassis design. Introduced RSi cabrio is ultimate version of the RSi and only couple "design studies" was ever made and unluckily without the tasty orange interior.

Super cool interior of the coupe model. Source: cyberbeetle.de

In details:

Engine
- VR6, 3189cc, 24-valve (BFH/BML)
- Compression ratio: 10,8:1

Numbers
- 224hp/6200rpm (red line 6500rpm)
- 320Nm/3200rpm
- 0-100Km/h: 6,4s
- 0-400M: 14,8s
- 1Km: 24,7s
- Top speed 225Km/h
- 1515kg
- Drag coefficient: 0,4

Transmission
- 6 speed manual, 4WD (Haldex)
- Limited slip differential 

Chassis
- Independent McPherson front and semi-independent rear suspension
- Ventilated disks front and rear (334/26mm)
- O.Z Racing "Superturismo"18x9" alloys and 235/40ZR18 tires

Exterior
- Wider bumbers
- Rear wing
- Rear window wing
- 80mm wider fenders
- Double exhaust outlet

Interior
- Bucket seats in orange leather (color coded back)
- Speedo with LED shift lights
- Extra set of gauges
- Carbon trim
- Carbon door panels
- Alloy detailing
- Alloy pedals and feed rests (for both front passengers)
- Production number plate

Other
- Limited 250 unit production of "coupe" (in between 10/2000 - 3/2003) and couple cabrio prototypes
- All painted in reflex silber

Volkswagen Polo R '2013

'Street warrior'

New more aggressive front. Source:carsnew.blockspot.fi

Since Golf GTI has become size of a whale Polo has been replacing it as a thrilling pocket rocket of the Volkswagen fleet. The design of the current Polo is really successful when thinking the size of a car -small cars are somewhat more challenging to make look cool. Soon deputing WRC version has such a muscles that makes it one of the greatest rally car design ever! Hope all the best for it, so I can finally have a new hero replacing the old farts like Delta Integrale and Escort Cosworth.

Quite carefull design here at back. Source: carsnew.blockspot.fi

Anyway VW decided to take everything out of its WRC adventure, so this spring they are introducing Polo R. The teaser was already introduced in Wörthersee's VW enthusiastic show and now its confirmed that they gonna build some. Polo R extends the saga of special Polo's that was started with G40 and followed by GTI Cup. Of course VW wants to be the king of the hill so hope they do things as properly as it sounds in paper and Polo's wolf version doesn't remain just a make up. Not so many details are leaked, but here's some that I was able to find...

Polo WRC -evil as it comes! Source: bimmerboost.com

In details

Engine

R4, 1984cc, 16-valve, TSI, Turbo (EA888?)

BorgWarner 'K03' water-cooled turbocharger

Intercooler

Numbers

220hp

320Nm

0-100Km/h: 6,4s

Top speed 243Km/h

Transmission

6-speed manual, FWD

Chassis

18" Cagliari alloys with 215/35R18 tires

Exterior

Aggressive front bumper

Side skirts

Black mirrors

Rear spoiler in black

Rear diffusor

Blue brake calibers

Some stupid graphics

Interior

Alcantara steering wheel with 'Aaltonen's stripe'

Racing seats

WRC specific trim

Blue stitches

R-style blue dials

Alloy pedals

Other
2500 cars are planned to be produced

Volkswagen Golf GTI G60 Fire and Ice ( A3)'1990

'Purple Element'

Beautifully painted Fire and Ice GTI with upgraded ever cool BBS RS's. Source: volksforum.com

Source: ffp.fi

In 1990 Volkswagen released Fire and Ice edition of the mk2 Golf for the German markets. Dark violet pearl finished and very contemporary trimmed edition was offered in several engine options.

G60 prefers the fastest and rarest versions of mk2 Golf that are equipped with "G-lader" magnesium supercharger with 60mm inlet. Engines are highly sensitive for the air temperatures and performance depends much of the weather. The G60 engine is developed from the earlier and smaller G40 version used in Polo G40. Original G40 unit was produced to compete with Polo's more powerful hot hatch rivals, such as Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9. Engine deputed in 1988 at B3 Passat's nose and was produced until July 1993. The ultimate G60 unit can be founded from VW Motorsport produced Golf Limited with 209hp and 247Nm.

In details

Engine
Straight 4, 1781cc, 8-valve, supercharged (G60 PG)
Side-mounted intercooler
Compression ratio: 8:1

Numbers
160hp/5600rpm
225Nm/4000rpm
Top speed: 216Km/h
0-100Km/h: 7,8s
0-400m: 16,3s
1032kg

Transmission
5 -speed manual, FWD

Chassis
McPherson, coil springs, anti-roll bar (front)
Torsion axle, trailing arm, coil springs, anti-roll bar (rear)
Ventilated disks

Estoril 15" alloys with 190/50VR15 tyres

Exterior

Dark violet pearl metallic lacquer paint finish

Green tinted glass

Double head light grille

Colour coded 'big' bumbers with deep front spoiler

Clear front indicators

Darkened rear lights

Large Fire & Ice -logo on the rear head quarter panel

Pink rear Golf badge

Interior

Sport seats

Custom trim with various Fire & Ice -logos

Other

Approx. 2,500 produced;

1.8 8V, 90hp - 2.200 made

1.8 8V GTI, 107hp -  200 made

1.8 16V GTI, 129hp - unknown

1.8 8V G60 GTI, 160hp - 70 made

1.6 8V GTD, 80hp - 60 made