Woerthersee: Volkswagen yesterday unveiled a of a 6.0L W12 650PS (641bhp in our money) mid-engined Golf GTi design study.
Called the GTi W12-650, it uses a twin-turbocharged W12 engine producing a claimed 553lb ft torque.
The engine, borrowed from the luxury end of the VW range usually found in the Phaeton must have taken some design planning to wedge into the MK5 chassis.
What does all this mean? A 0-100kph in just 3.7secs and a top speed of 184mph - although this must surely be a conservative estimate given the power / weight ratio this concept should have. The
engine is mounted (longitudinally) behind the front seats, and powers the
rear drive through the widely acclaimed DSG gearbox. Unlike most other mind engined sports cars, the engine cannot be accessed from the boot, instead access is gained via the cabin! Should make servicing a chore.
Designer, Klaus Bischoff, said they wanted to keep the shape as close to the character of the original car as possible, so opted to develop a carbon-fibre roof that also acts as a diffuser. Inside, there are even more mods for pure performance - unnecessary kit is stripped out, and race-inspired details such as flip-up switch guards and a fire extinguisher feature.
At present this model is penned as a 'Study', so whether it will ever see the light of day is another story. However there is speculation amongst enthusiasts that VW may produce a limited run... at a cost of 150,000 Euro per vehicle.