Wörthersee 2007: VW shows off monster Golf GTI W12 650 concept

Click for high-res gallery of VW Golf GTI W12 650 concept
It would appear that the Audi TT clubsport was just an appetizer for the fans at the Wörthersee 2007 meet in Austria. Volkswagen has upped the ante by throwing down a stunner: the Golf GTI W12 650 concept. The ultimate GTI in every way, this car has a claimed top speed of 325 km/h -- 201 mph! -- and a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) of 3.7 seconds.
This is a pure show car, so don't go running to your VW dealer waving around a fistful of cash. He won't be able to help you. Too bad, though, as this super Golf dishes out a mammoth 650 horsepower and over 530 ft lbs of torque from the 6.0L biturbo W12 it's got mounted behind the front seats. All that juice flows through a 6-speed automatic to the rear wheels, which are shod in some seriously meaty rubber.
Lower and wider than a stock GTI, the body retains the production car's doors, hood and lights, but otherwise it's all new. A number of intakes and a redesigned C-pillar help feed air to the 12-cylinder behemoth supplying the go-power. To keep the car planted to the tarmac, VW didn't want to use a massive spoiler to generate downforce. As such, the car's carbon-fiber roof acts as a giant diffuser that funnels air under the small spoiler at its trailing edge. In summary, the whole thing is a big exercise in the awesome.
Translated press release after the jump.
UPDATE: Unveiling video embedded after the jump. Thanks to commenter slicecom!
UPDATE 2: Gallery updated with live shots and an interior photo
[Source: VW via Zer Customs]
Gallery: VW Golf GTI W12 650 Concept
PRESS RELEASE:
Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650
Showtime at the Wörthersee
Leave conventions behind and let ypur passion awake - since the beginning these were the roots of the GTI idea. Until today they got more than 1.67 million drivers into their spell. Long has the Golf GTI been an icon. A mark for itself.
Since 1982 Golf GTI celebrate it annually in the Austrian Land at the Wörthersee. Thousands come.Volkswagen placed a Golf before them: the Golf GTI W12-650 showcar. This sports car is a inclination before the GTI friends at the Wörthersee, people for whom the GTI is a myth.
Stronger, broader, faster
A Golf was never stronger, broader or faster. It seems that the Golf GTI W12-650 comes directly from the racing course. A Golf that runs like the Pace Car of the 24 hours of Le Mans. Its name means: W12-Zylinder, 650 HP (477 KW with 6.000 rpm). A Showcar, not more, not less. Nevertheless it shows what enormous potential the Golf has to offer.
3.7 seconds, 325 km/h, 750 Newtonmeters
Its 6,0 Liter Biturbo engine is longitudinal and placed directly behind the driver and the front seat passenger. The Golf GTI W12-650 differentiate itself in this way from the classical central engine car. A 6-speed automatic transmission transfers 750 Newtonmeters (at 4.500 rpm) to the rear axle. It catapults the Golf GTI W12-650 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. With a maximum speed of 325 km/h the Golf GTI W12-650 leaves behind nearly all of the world's supercars.
Width 1.88 m, 235er tire in front, 295er tire in the back
Automotive engineers and designers united under Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650
its 1.88 meters (series: 1.76 meters) spread and 1.42 meters (series: 1.50 meters) flatten body. The chassis components of the Golf GTI W12-650 were adapted directly from supersports cars. The wheels are of course made from a light alloy and because of the gigantic wheel dimensions a specialy engineered tire had to be made.
70 millimeters lower, 160 millimeters broader
The goal was clearly defined - despite the partially dramatic technical changes the study should
remain completely clear that this is a Golf GTI. Therefore as much parts as possible were taken from tha classical GTI like: the headlights, the doors, the front hood and the tail lamps. The axles were pushed 70 millimeters into the body.
The largest problem was to supply the 6-litre central engine with sufficient air and to produce sufficient drift at the rear axle without watering the silhouette of the Golf GTI W12-650. Therefore the C-columns were re-designed in such a way that they lead air to the engine. The rear side windows run inward, so that two channels develop between the disks and the C-columns on the left and on the right to drive air to the engine.
The Carbon fiber roof is a diffuser
Innovative building of the body also prevented that the lines of the Golf GTI W12-650 to get ruined by a putting on a roof wing. The study carries the wing inward. The roof is part of an enormous diffuser, which provides sufficient drift to the rear axle. It's made from carbon fiber and leads air under the normal tail spoiler.
Interior with racing ambitions
The leather is Alcantara. On the middle range of the armatures are Three rows of auxiliary instruments. Transparent "Flip UP" switch guards for central functions like the disconnectible ESP look like taken derectly from the race track.
Fire extinguishers are integrated in the place of the glove compartment to also remind us of the race. Because of weight reasons "stripped" the door linings are complete; only lattices are used, which grant a complete view of the interior mechanics of the door.












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Rendani Ramabulana 8:48AM (2/01/2008)
I am breathless. All I can say is, "When is this baby coming down to South Africa?"
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vectorbug 1:34PM (5/17/2007)
I was just talking about how someone needs to throw a W12 (actually I said W16) engine in the back of the GTi. Keep it in the family.
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Brian 1:34PM (5/17/2007)
Why the hell are they keeping it a show car?! They should throw that into production ASAP and watch 'em fly off the lot
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robz4 1:43PM (5/17/2007)
Wicked !!
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Will 1:46PM (5/17/2007)
#2 Brian- can you really imagine the problems of getting a car like that to pass emissions, crash regulations, reliability targets, fuel economy limits, etc.? Imagine what would happen in a crash with a twin-turbo 12-cylinder behind the driver in a hatchback with no bulkhead. There is absolutely no way this thing will ever be built.
Awesome study in VW's technological skill, though, above and beyond the Jetta RGT and R GTI the company built for the last two SEMA shows. It's nice to see VW is putting dollars into new concepts in the sport compact segment. Still, I don't know if a one-off vehicle with a relocated engine and completely reengineered aerodynamics really "shows what enormous potential the Golf has to offer."
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David 1:53PM (5/17/2007)
The front and rear end styling on this car, which could be transferred to a front engined production car are stunning. That much we can and should get. Soon.
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gus 2:01PM (5/17/2007)
nice renderings - when i can see the real thing?
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james 2:05PM (5/17/2007)
I remember a neighbor had a forst fiesta w/ the taurus sho (yamaha) engine...scary quick
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Scotty 2:07PM (5/17/2007)
... automatic? bleh
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ruggels 2:06PM (5/17/2007)
gus i'm pretty sure those are real shots, looks like about four layers going and heavy curve usage, definately not cgi.
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slicecom 2:08PM (5/17/2007)
Right now Gus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCvifZybyLg
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geo.stewart 2:09PM (5/17/2007)
Call it a Vdub but dont call it a Golf.
while it looks wicked and goes wicked fast, the truth is that is NOT a Golf, any more than monster truck is an F-150 or NASCAR Impala is an Impala...
"taken from tha classical GTI like: the headlights, the doors, the front hood and the tail lamps." no golf i've been in has the W12, is RWD, rear-engined...
"The chassis components of the Golf GTI W12-650 were adapted directly from supersports cars. The wheels are of course made from a light alloy and because of the gigantic wheel dimensions a specialy engineered tire had to be made.... Therefore the C-columns were re-designed in such a way that they lead air to the engine. ...
"
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jdubbmw 1:51AM (3/20/2008)
What is the point of this car? The rear suspension is from a gallardo and the engine is from a bently. I would say the parts add up to an expensive want-to-be supercar that looks like a golf!
Another thing, im not an engineer but have seen some suckers for gti's at the track with enhanced suspension and engines and despite the speed of the cars they have a serious flaw - they cannot turn. So what that car you see above is a fast piece of manure.
John P. 2:10PM (5/17/2007)
7: ford festiva - it was called the Shogun and yeah, this reminds me of that.
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Sean Cahill 2:12PM (5/17/2007)
Are we sure this is real? It kind of sounds like a bunch of hooey to me. Would a W12 really fit into the engine bay of a GTI??
Wouldn't that cause some serious weight and handling issues, having that large a lump up front in such a small car?
If it is for real, the WOO-BOY, that's one bad mother.
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J. Kempe 2:12PM (5/17/2007)
james, what your friend had was a "SHOgun" Ford built a few of them, crazy little buggers... I think Leno has one in green or something...
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slicecom 2:15PM (5/17/2007)
Yes Sean, it's real. see the video i posted. The engine does not fit under the hood, it's rear engined.
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Curtis 2:21PM (5/17/2007)
VW needs to un-pimp there auto. That's stupid, especially after VW's whole campaign about stupid looking body kits. I know it's not a body kit, but it looks horrible. You can't turn an ugly hatchback into a super car.
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Kash 2:23PM (5/17/2007)
Actually this looks very much like the Renault Clio V6, not the "shogun". Almost a carbon copy. Same midengine layout. Make sure to check out Clarkson's review.
I think Volkswagen should stick a 350hp Turbocharged V6 behind the 2-front seats and make it RWD. Price it at $40k.
Photos:http://images.google.com/images?um=1&tab=wi&client=firefox-a&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=Clio+V6
Videos: http://video.google.com/videosearch?tab=iv&client=firefox-a&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=Clio+V6
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zach 2:23PM (5/17/2007)
Sean - try reading the article first.
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