The GTI W12 is a fabulous showcase for VW's design and engineering expertise
Description: The W12-650 is without doubt the most extreme Golf GTI on the road.
Where the engine would normally be there's a tiny luggage space, and where the
rear seats would normally be there's a rather large 6.0-litre W12 engine.
Officially it's the unit from the Phaeton with a pair of turbochargers bolted
on; unofficially that means it's the engine from the Bentley Continental GT.
It
was unveiled at the GTI festival in Wörthersee, Austria, last week - and bosses
took the wraps off a GTI Pirelli edition at the same event.
But it was the 12-cylinder model which stole the show. And if you thought the
old 153mph Renault Clio V6 was impressive, the VW can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.7
seconds and hit a maximum speed of 184mph.
The outrageously styled W12 has the looks to match its pace, with a pair of
giant scoops on either side of the widened body. These feed air to the
mid-mounted engine. Aggressive new bumpers at the front and rear, as well as
bold 19-inch alloy wheels, also help to set this Golf apart from ordinary
production models
.
Built on a bespoke rear-wheel-drive aluminium chassis, the W12 is unlikely to
make it to showrooms. The GTI Pirelli, on the other hand, will. It's based on
the Edition 30 model, and revives the name of the 1983 limited-run MkI Pirelli.
Power comes from a 227bhp 2.0-litre TFSI engine, giving 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds.
It's the most extreme
Golf GTI ever - a fearsome mid-engined hatchback with even greater performance
than Lamborghini's Gallardo.
Inside, it's a similar visual feast. The basic donor GTI cabin gets racing
bucket seats which, like most of the cabin, are trimmed in Alcantara suede with
white and red leather
Called the GTI W12-650, this VW is a spectacular display of radical thinking and
engineering expertise powered by a 6.0-litre twin-turbo engine. Its incredible
top speed is in excess of 200mph.
We first brought you news of the stunning machine in Issue 962, and since then,
it has wowed visitors to shows across Europe. It was the undisputed star at
recent huge GTI festivals over here in Leicester and on the Continent in
Austria.
So, with the car making a rare UK appearance, we grabbed the chance to get
exclusive on-the-road access. One thing is for sure - nothing can prepare you
for the shock when you first lay eyes on the GTI W12.
It looks menacing and aggressive from every angle. Produced from scratch in only
six weeks, it shares precious little with the basic Golf GTI. The bonnet is the
only body part to be carried over - every other panel is new.
Made of lightweight reinforced plastic, the bodywork takes the Golf's compact
shape and turns it into something rather monstrous. It's all about form
following function, though, as the gaping vents and floating C-pillars have been
designed to channel as much air as possible into the engine bay.
Underneath is a lift-reducing aerodynamic tray, while the carbon fibre roof,
red-edged radiator grille, chrome exhaust tips, W12 badging and GTI-style
19-inch alloys finish off the look.
Inside, it's a similar visual feast. The basic donor GTI cabin gets racing
bucket seats which, like most of the cabin, are trimmed in Alcantara suede with
white and red leather.
The centre console comprises an extra three dials - with two showing turbo boost
pressure and one for the temperature of the car's exhaust system. Beneath them
lies a row of stylish toggle switches. Overall attention to detail is amazing,
with the handbrake lever's spring left exposed, thanks to machined openings in
its casing.
Without doubt, though, the most striking feature of the interior is the engine.
Behind the driver and passenger lies a twin-turbocharged version of the
6.0-litre W12 found in VW's Phaeton and Bentley's Continental range.
The W12 is made out of aluminium to reduce weight, helping the chunky machine
tip the scales at 1,700kg. It's hooked up to a modified version of VW's
six-speed Tiptronic gearbox, which is mounted behind the engine, with drive
going to the rear wheels. As you can imagine, all this requires some rather
ingenious engineering, and under the skin, the huge powerplant is mounted on
aluminium subframes from Audi's R8 supercar.
Suspension and brakes borrowed from the Gallardo complete the dynamic changes,
while two massive fans help keep the engine cool.
With the car producing 641bhp - that's three times as much power as the stock
GTI - Volkswagen claims the W12-650 can dispatch the sprint from 0-62mph in 3.7
seconds and accelerate on to a top speed of 201.8mph.
From start-up, it certainly sounds full of potential. Twist the key, and the big
engine erupts, a stab of the throttle bringing a thunderous rasp from the quad
exhaust pipes. At idle, you can even feel huge gulps of air being sucked into
the unit from the side vents and over your shoulder.
Alas, we weren't able to test the GTI W12 to its limits. This hatchback is
virtually priceless and, therefore, cannot be driven at high speed.
Engineers will now embark on a programme which will see the chassis stiffened
and the aerodynamics and suspension tweaked. "We aim to crack the 200mph
barrier, and verify all the performance claims we have made," said a VW
spokesman.
