True.. I also suppose MSport are using all their jokers now if they will have a totally new car next year.
I presume a new Peugeot 209 is not far away either?
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IMHO the reason why 1.6T cars had lower top speed was the different engine power curve. While the 2.0 cars with huge boost used lower rpm range for maximum effect the 1.6T cars must have the peak power higher. Both cars had same maximum rpm given by the rules therefore I guess that with 2.0 car You had more rpm from the peak to the rpm limiter so You reached higher top speed while in fact Your power was already decreasing (but was still big enough to accelerate).
It's similar like comparing gr.N Evo and S2000. You can reach very big top speed with gr.N car if You have veeeery long straight simply because You still have rpm to use before the limiter. Even though the available power isn't great anymore.
For R5 the main reason for lower top speed is 5-speed gearbox.
PLuto was stubbornly insisting there was such a project and that there would be such a car, and that was maybe two years ago. I seem to recall that someone even claimed it had tested but we have still not seen anything so even if there were plans I doubt they came to fruition.
There was some development ongoing but God knows what is the status today.
That depends on the engine characteristics and the needs. It's always about finding the compromise between all factors but it's easier with WRC car which have plenty more possible adjustments allowed by the rules. Anyway top speed is not the most important factor of any car and there aren't many roads where it plays a role.
With R classes it is very much limited by the rules. R5 are allowed to have only two options, S2000 had more (don't remember exactly), R2 have only one or two etc.
Typicaly... R5 175-195 km/h, R2 160-190 km/h, S2000 165-195 km/h but except for Škoda usually shorter options are being used.