Volkswagen Golf GTI W12-650 Concept

The Volkswagen Golf GTI W12-650 is a show car based on the fifth generation Golf, which was prepared in just 8 months and presented at the GTI festival in Wörthersee (Austria) in May 2007 as a tribute to friends and car fans of the GTI, especially that the event has been held since 1982.

The name W12-650 encoded the configuration and power of the engine, which was also used in Bentley cars. This 6.0-litre bi-turbo engine was mounted longitudinally directly behind the driver and front passenger as there was no room in front for it. As a result, the GTI W12-650 has evolved into a classic mid-engined sports car. The six-speed automatic transmission sent 750 Nm of torque to the rear axle instead of both, as in the regular Golf GTI. Acceleration from zero to 100 kph was 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 327 kph.

The body has also undergone significant changes. In particular, the width was increased to 1.88 m, and the height was reduced to 1.42 m. The roof was made of carbon fiber. 19-inch wheels with tires 235 mm wide were installed on the front axle, and 295 mm tires on the rear. Hubs and other suspension elements have been adapted for larger Detroit-designed wheels, like the Golf GTI. They, for example, were recessed about 7 cm deep into the car, while the rear wheel arches were expanded by 8 cm on each side. By the way, the front brakes were from an Audi RS4, while the rear brakes and axle were from a Lamborghini Gallardo.

For maximum resemblance to the serial hatchback, the authors of the project took for the show car a maximum of details and elements from an ordinary car. For example, headlights, somewhat modified due to the wide aerodynamic skirt of the door, as well as the hood and lights.

According to the brand's then chief designer Klaus Bischoff, the biggest challenge in building the prototype was getting enough air from the powerful engine without damaging the GTI's silhouette. In order not to change the key design element of the model - the massive C-shaped rear roof pillars – the rear windows were turned into a kind of air ducts, through which the oncoming flows got to the engine.

Such a powerful and fast machine needed adequate downforce on the rear axle. However, for aesthetic reasons, the designers did not want to install a huge wing. Bischoff says the aerodynamic element has been replaced with a custom-engineered carbon fiber roof. The car also had an air intake almost the entire width of the front bumper and a large diffuser in the rear, from which chrome twin exhaust pipes protruded from the sides.

The interior of the show car was also familiar to GTI fans in many ways, but it has also undergone a number of changes. In particular, he received sports buckets covered with leather and artificial suede, a different front panel and a central tunnel. The toggle switches for activating such important functions and systems as ESP, ASR, alarms and others were covered in a racing manner with transparent covers. A fire extinguisher is built into the glove compartment. For the sake of weight reduction, the door trim was simplified and lightened. The instrument panel has migrated from the Golf R32 with a scale of 340 kph.

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