Volkswagen W12

The Volkswagen W12 Coupe (also known as the Volkswagen Nardò, with reference to the vehicle test track near to the Italian city of Nardò) was a concept car created by Volkswagen Passenger Cars in 1997.

Initial conception

Picture. At the request of then Volkswagen Group CEO Ferdinand Piech, Giorgetto Giugiaro and his Italdesign team was tasked to design a Volkswagen sports car, with instructions that it had to accommodate a 12 cylinder engine in a W configuration, be mid-engined, and also be able to be configured with Volkwagen's Syncro four-wheel drive system.

Another reason for its conception was to prove to the world that Volkswagen Group could build a large and reliable engine for its luxury car, the Volkswagen Phaeton, and its sport utility vehicle, the Volkswagen Touareg.

The concepts

1997 W12 syncro

In 1997, at the Tokyo Motor Show Volkswagen debuted their first sports car concept, a bright yellow W12 syncro Coupe with a 5.6 litre W12 engine producing 309 kilowatts (420 PS; 414 bhp) with Syncro four-wheel drive. It, and the W12 concepts after it, were all designed by the Italdesign firm in Italy.

length: 4400 mm
width: 1920 mm
height: 1100 mm
wheelbase: 2530 mm
front track: 1620 mm
rear track: 1600 mm
front overhang: 1000 mm
rear overhang: 870 mm
engine position: mid longitudinal
drive: four-wheel drive
engine: 5,600 cubic centimetres (341.7 cu in) W12
rated power: 309 kilowatts (420 PS; 414 bhp)

1998 W12 Roadster

A year later at the Geneva Auto Salon, a red W12 Roadster with the same 5.6 litre W12 engine and rear-wheel drive configuration was shown, and its smaller amount of power than the coupe.

length: 4400 mm
width: 1920 mm
height: 1100 mm
wheelbase: 2530 mm
front track: 1634 mm
rear track: 1652 mm
front overhang: 990 mm
rear overhang: 880 mm
engine position: mid longitudinal
drive: rear-wheel drive
engine: 5,600 cubic centimetres (341.7 cu in) W12
rated power: 309 kilowatts (420 PS; 414 bhp)

2001 concept

In 2001, at the Tokyo Motor Show, Volkswagen Group released their most powerful W12 sports car concept yet, in bright orange. The engine was rated at producing 441 kilowatts (600 PS; 591 bhp) and 621 newton-metres (458 lbf⋅ft) of torque; it could accelerate from standstill to 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in about 3.5 seconds, and had a top speed of 350 kilometres per hour (217.5 mph), weighing just 1,200 kilograms (2,646 lb). It was one of the fastest sports car concepts in the world. It was created by Charlie Adair.

24 Hour World Record Holder

A special unpainted carbon fiber version of the W12 Coupe set seven 24-hour world speed records at the Nardò Ring^[1] near Lecce, Italy. The car's nickname was derived from the circuit.

References

^ Notice that original Italian names has stress on the last syllable.

External links

[1] Notice that original Italian names has stress on the last syllable.

[1]