Friday 18th May 2007

Factory built mid-engined Golf!

It's a concept W12 - and it's no joke...

---

We're not surprised it likes a burnout

We had to ring VW’s press office when we received the Golf GTi W12-650 study email from them. I mean, if ever there was an April 1^st joke, this had to be it - even if we're now in May. But no, it’s true; the VW engineers really have taken the W12 motor from a Phaeton, added a pair of turbos and installed it into an unsuspecting Golf. Oh, and its rear wheel drive…

The concept has been created for the Wörthersee 2007 meet in Austria. Thanks to the addition of the two turbos, the engine is now good for 641bhp at 6,000rpm with 553lb ft of torque developed at 4,500rpm. In this Golf, that equates to 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed set by VW at 184mph. However, according to a VW spokesperson, it’ll run on to 201.8mph if you kept your foot in…

W12 has two turbos for 641bhp

The concept uses the six speed automatic gearbox from the Phaeton – presumably for reasons of convenience and because it can handle the outputs of the engine – and the engine itself sits in a unique aluminium structure within a heavily modified Golf platform. It doesn’t feature a large rear wing, because it has full under-floor aerodynamics.

The wheels are similar to the GTI’s optional 18in rims, but here they measure 19in with 235mm wide tyres up front and 295mm at the back. The track is 160mm wider than standard

That pumped up bodywork is made from steel and carbon fibre, and styled under VW’s head of design, Klaus Bischoff.

So it’s a bit like a Clio V6 then, only with a whole heap more attitude. What's more, it should be landing in the UK soon. We love it…

 

[andyinpembs]

top speed set at 184mph. Apparently, it’ll run on to 201.8mph if you kept your foot in…

Don't understand!

A rear wheel drive golf. Now there's a thought...

Want one!

[Frank1e]

I want two.

[Harry Flashman]

Oh wow!

Want.

[RainerM]

I want two,:-)))

one with rear-drive for the summer

and

one with AWD for the winter :-))

Rainer-CH

[Vodka Margarine]

I want one

Not liking the looks of the back end though

[roop]

Arooooga...!!! Me want.

[aka_kerrly]

Those crazy VW engineers.

Much like the development of the original GTI, its great that VW engineers are able to create such projects!!!!

[Lippy]

i want one!

IF it reaches these shores, I dread to think what price it will command, with a specced up r32 going for over £30k this is going to be expensive.

[FestivAli]

I'm erect.

[mk1fan]

Yeah Baby, How you doin'?

[waynepixel]

Bloody hell, I want one, where do I sign my life away. I must admit, there are some styling ideas from the Clio V6, but the car still looks fantastic.

Edited by waynepixel on Friday 18th May 11:09

[e39M52003]

It's a one off at this stage, so would likely cost at least £500,000 upwards if you wanted the same thing re-created by VW.

And that's even if they would agree to build another, which is unlikely.

"If" it did go into production, I would reckon on a limited run of 100 at around £175,000 or more each.

Remember how much the new Beetle RSi was? They made 250 of them around mid-2002; £49,995 for an LHD import with only 225bhp and R32 running gear, 0-60 in 6.9 seconds and 140mph.....

Dream on.......

[astrsxi77]

Hard to criticise this kind of ballsy engineering from a company usually noted for the "safe and solid" approach but I still wonder what it must weigh and if they'll bother to market it with a manual option (unlike such "driver's" cars as the new M5 and the Mercedes ANY AMG EVER)....

[Andy_sx]

im going to join on the back of the que asking for one from father christmas or Mr Camelot

its insane in all the right ways... the ultimate hot hatch in every single way bar a useable boot and rear seats... and who cares about not having them with this!

i didnt know VW had emailed the PH team otherwise i wouldnt have sent the link accross aswell, but thought it really should be aired on PH for everyone to see

[FourWheelDrift]

Nice, don't like the alloys though.

[loveice]

"The VW engineers really have taken the W12 motor from a Phaeton, added a pair of turbos and installed it into an unsuspecting Golf."

Why not just say they've taken the W12 from Continental GT in stead? Coz the difference between Phaeton and CGT are the pair of turbo, right?

[runnersp]

Cough repost Cough...

[waynepixel]

I am just hoping that some of the ideas from the V12 Golf get filtered down into a production car, I for one would love too see a Rear Wheel drive golf, the market is crying out for something like that.

[jimmy_mac]

Pistonheads said:

What's more, it should be landing in the UK soon.

Have VW confirmed they're gonna built this beast (or something similar)? I've read elsewhere it's a pure show car/design study. But what a design study! Can anyone here seriously see VW green lighting a (necessarily watered-down) production ready version of this? If so, I wonder if it'll come in acid yellow...

[adam towler]

jimmy_mac said:

Pistonheads said:

What's more, it should be landing in the UK soon.

Have VW confirmed they're gonna built this beast (or something similar)? I've read elsewhere it's a pure show car/design study. But what a design study! Can anyone here seriously see VW green lighting a (necessarily watered-down) production ready version of this? If so, I wonder if it'll come in acid yellow...

The concept may be coming to the UK next month we're told. Whether they'll let us drive it, is altogether a different matter...