If the Polo GTI’s somewhat soft styling is too understated for you, Volkswagen has released an antidote, in the form of the Polo R-Line styling kit.

Debuting in Europe this week, the latest package in Volkswagen’s wider R-Line styling catalogue is available only with the Euro-market Polo’s Comfortline and Highline variants. Still, we reckon you could wrangle that front bumper for your GTI if you tried.

Along with the tougher front bumper, the Polo R-Line exterior pack offers 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels, a Golf R-style glossy black grille and R badge, and a faux diffuser at the rear with a single chromed exhaust tip. There’s also a top-mounted spoiler and side skirts.

Add the R-Line Plus package and you get a host of interior tweaks, including Alcantara or leather sports seat options, a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel (likely from the GTI), gloss-black dash highlights, aluminium pedals and door sills, as well as a black roof lining.

It’s not the Polo R you’ve been hoping for, but that may still be on the cards. Whether the Polo R-Line styling kit will make its way to our shores is unclear. Volkswagen South Africa has yet to offer any of the brand’s existing R-Line packages locally.