The 641bhp, mid-engined twelve-cylinder Golf GTI is back, and now it’s RED. Volkswagen rolls out its gloriously unhinged concept from 2007, a car that was never meant to see the light of day. This is the GTI that was supposed to be the ultimate expression of the brand's engineering prowess, but instead, it was relegated to the back of the garage, waiting for the day when it could finally be set free. The W12 engine, lifted straight from the Phaeton, was the brainchild of Volkswagen's engineering team. This 6.0-litre behemoth produced 641bhp and 553lb ft, making it one of the most powerful production engines of its time. The power was delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed Tiptronic auto, which managed to dispatch the 0-62mph time to just 3.7 seconds and a theoretical top speed of 201.8mph. The Golf GTI W12-650 was a bespoke design study, built by Volkswagen ...
The 641bhp, mid-engined twelve-cylinder Golf GTI is back, and now it’s RED. Volkswagen rolls out its gloriously unhinged concept from 2007, a car that was never meant to see the light of day. This is the GTI that was supposed to be the ultimate expression of the brand’s engineering prowess, but instead, it was relegated to the back of the garage, waiting for the day when it could finally be set free.
The W12 engine, lifted straight from the Phaeton, was the brainchild of Volkswagen’s engineering team. This 6.0-litre behemoth produced 641bhp and 553lb ft, making it one of the most powerful production engines of its time. The power was delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed Tiptronic auto, which managed to dispatch the 0-62mph time to just 3.7 seconds and a theoretical top speed of 201.8mph.
The Golf GTI W12-650 was a bespoke design study, built by Volkswagen to mark the annual GTI festival in Worthersee, Austria. It was a three-door hatchback, filled with underfloor aero to keep it grounded and avoid the need for a rear wing. The car was built from carbon fibre, with cooling scoops and vents aplenty to keep the engine at bay.
The most striking feature of the Golf GTI W12-650, however, was its colour. The car was painted a deep, rich red, a colour that seemed almost incongruous with the rest of the Volkswagen range. It was a bold statement, one that screamed “I’m a car like no other”.
As the years went by, the Golf GTI W12-650 became a mythical creature, a car that was never meant to be. But now, it’s back, and it’s better than ever. The W12 engine has been tweaked, and the car has been given a new lease on life. It’s a car that’s sure to turn heads, and one that’s sure to leave a lasting impression.
The Golf GTI W12-650 is a car that’s been born from the ashes of the past, and it’s a car that’s sure to shape the future of the brand. It’s a car that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking, a car that’s sure to appeal to both old and new fans of the GTI.
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