MILTON KEYNES, U.K. (April 29, 2025) – Volkswagen has unveiled a special Harlequin-themed race livery to celebrate 50 years of the Polo. Revealed to the public for the first time at Bicester Motion’s springtime Scramble event, the eye-popping color scheme was chosen by Volkswagen fans on social media and will now adorn iconic championship-winning Polo rally cars for some thrilling birthday-related activities later this year.

Taking pride of place on Volkswagen’s Bicester show stand, the new ‘birthday suit’ was revealed on a Polo R World Rallycross (WRX) show car – a replica of Johan Kristoffersson’s all-conquering multi-championship winning FIA WRX car.

Four distinct liveries were originally available for Volkswagen fans to choose from as part of a global online poll – all inspired by the popular and quirky Polo Harlequin special edition in the 1990s. The winning paint scheme features a 1980s-style pop-art pattern and the original Harlequin car colors: Chagallblau (Chagall blue, pantone code LD5D), Flashrot (Flash red, LP3G), Ginstergelb (Ginster yellow, LR132) and Pistazie (Pistachio, LD6D).

Four other Polo models were also on display at Bicester, all adding their own splash of color to the birthday celebrations. An original Polo GLS Mk1 from 1975 in Inari silver represented the original design of the first Polo model. A Cherry red Polo Mk2 garnered a lot of attention, while the current generation Polo Black Edition and sporty Polo GTI in blue and black showcased the evolution of the model over five decades and 20 million sales worldwide.

“The Polo is a model that resonates with so many people for different reasons. They might have been fans of the Polo rally cars as they dominated world championships over the years, their parents might have owned a Mk1 or Mk2 Polo, or it might have been the car in which they learned to drive. Whatever the reason, the Polo is a special and enduring model for Volkswagen and that’s why it is great when we get to celebrate these milestone moments in such a colourful way.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing this one-off livery in action later in the year as the birthday celebrations really ramp up.”

– Mike Orford, Head of PR and Communications at Volkswagen UK