Those wondering when the Volkswagen Polo R will be launched, we have the scoop — sometime in 2010. Adding to the whole R-series that include the Golf R and the Scirocco R models, the new VW Polo R will have a  1.6 liter turbocharged petrol/gasoline engine that sports some 210 bhp, but unlike the Golf … there’s no sign of an AWD system since it will be built on the current PQ25 platform which doesn’t allow it. No word of an exact release date or prices, but it should be north of what the new Polo GTI will sell for when it will be available in Europe this summer — some £18,000/€20,000. Worth it folks?

ps: image of a Polo GTI

Audi is busy prepping three new versions of its new A5 coupe – headlined by this blistering 450bhp RS5 that arrives early next year to take on its new BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 rivals. Like all R models, the topdog A5 has been fully developed by Quattro, Audi’s in-house go-fast engineering team.

As our impressions show, the RS5 will get the full Quattro treatment. The glorious high-revving 4.2-litre V8 that powers the RS4 gets plumbed into the RS5’s nose, complete with two small and highly responsive turbochargers that will take peak power up to the 450bhp. That’s not a great deal more than the S5’s 354bhp, but the RS5 searing pace will come from its phenomenal blower-enhanced torque – expect at least 500lb ft of twist action to plateau across the rev range.

Read more after the jump