May17
Volkswagen today revealed the GTI W12 concept — an ultra-high-performance version of its popular GTI hatchback. Featuring a 12-cylinder, 6.0 liter motor, the GTI W12 can hit 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
Delivering 650 horsepower and 553 pound feet of torque, this GTI uses the same powerplant found in the Bentley Continental, Audi A8, Volkswagen Phaeton, and Touareg. The engine is based on two narrow-angle VR6 engines joined at the crank.
The car features extensive body modifications for increased aerodynamics and rides on 19-inch wheels. Volkswagen says the GTI W12 can hit a top speed of 202 mph. "This GTI moved the wing inward," explains Klaus Bischoff. "The roof is part of an enormous diffuser, which provides sufficient down force on the rear axle. It is made of carbon fiber and forces air over and under the tail spoiler to obtain a perfect amount of pressure on the rear axle."
The purpose of this design study is not known, and production seems unlikely.
veeryy nice, how much?
HOLY FUKIN SWEET!!! this just shows you that german engineering is much much better than anyone else out there at the moment. GO GERMANY!!! i dont think this will ever be produced and even if it does it will only be in limited numbers.
Looks like a rip of a Renault.
Beautiful engine, but why cram it into something as ugly and small as the GTI? That thing must be a Viper-style oven to sit in.
The side scoops and rear diffuser are both hideous. Given the same engine, I'll take the gorgeous Audi A8 over a rice-styled Rabbit/Golf/whatever.
Must be nice to have that kind of "expence account" and bust open (ie. destroy) the envelope.
hahahaha holy hell i love this car more than life itself… wow i want one… nothing id ever think VW would do, a definite nice surprise!
Other than potential performance numbers I don't get the excitement over this car. The front end looks like a Bigmouth Bass, and the rear looks like a clown with constipation.
those side vents (i think that's what they are) make me wanna vomit.
0% chance of production
Dear God! Hem it back to the W8 and ship it!
Holy front-weight bias Batman! Even with AWD this thing's gonna handle like an over-powered shopping cart! Now, the aerodynamics could easily be applied to the GTI range.
I think I just came.
Sure the story may be true but those pictures a photoshopped. Reflections on the wrong side of the car. It was either a photoshoot chopped onto a different background, fake pictures of a fake car or an artist's rendering.
Lighting is wrong in every picture, the wheels in motion look fake etc.
Great concept, as to why? who knows
looks overdone
i am with bacalao on this one, there is no way is this car going to make it to production!
Jonnycat,
I'd be more inclined to believe that this car is 3D CGI rather than Photoshop. I do understand you're calling this Photoshop'ed, the Per pixel bias and lack of motion blur (The Car looks too sharp compared to the background) on the car does not match any photos I've ever seen of a car passing by a camera. Reflections are missing. The lightings correct but scene reflections cement an object into the scene and like I said they are missing.
Environment reflections, likely a function of HDRIs (High Dynamic Range Images), are quite good. They never bothered to "photo-model" the set so reflections on the car are missing. I had to do that for a compositing project in college. Takes a lot less time than you might think. No wonder there is that odd darkness in the lower facing curvatures and faces of the car. The lower half of the Environment map or HDRI (which seems unlikely) is blacked out.
This might have been done in Cinema 4D (likely version 9.5), a very popular 3D package in Europe. I know what functions to use to get exactly those pictures.
Hey, all you idiots who complain about the vents, and the scoops, and the diffuser, etc.:
ITS NOT DECORATION! ITS FOR AERODYNAMICS! ITS FOR HIGH SPEED STABILITY!
Get a life!
DO WANT
so much for the un-pimp my ride slogan.
I agree it looks like a photoshop. Just look at the roof in the second to last picture, that carbon fiber was added via computer
I would pay 65k for that car.
That is one silly looking car…. I want to drive it so badly though.
Holy Cr@p!
…
(but I do want one!)
BAMF: Then answer me this. If a Corvette or Gallardo can make aerodynamics look sexy, why the hell does this car look like a pig ricer?
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/gti_w12.asp
according to the link, it seems that the engine is actually placed behind the driver, so weight balance actually shouldn't be so bad. at first I was thinking that there was no way they could fit a W12 in the engine bay of a GTI, and I don't think they could, so it would make sense that they had to put it behind the driver.
an amazing car, if you ask me. I'm not a big fan of the front end, because of the wide mouth look, but it's not terrible.
It's a VW..
I'd gladly accept if one were given to me but I've seen too many VWs myself to ever buy one.
Agree with 360Modena. Price it anywhere between 65k-75k and I guarantee it would sell like hotcakes! Car makers need to be bolder.
Dayumn, but how the hell did they manage to fit a friggin W12 in there!?
It does look like a gay ricer though.
Peugeot wanna-be…
I can't believe the Europeans on here haven't mentioned the Renault Clio V6. Google it and then have a think about the similarities. They had to rip the back seats out for the engine there too.
I'm in the "want one" camp too, but
a) not in the market for a car like this, and
b) can't see how it'll make production anyway.
This car is not front heavy because the engine is in the middle (i.e. behind the front seats but ahead of the rear wheels) It is also rear wheel drive and thus must handle like a dream. I really wish this car would go into production, as it would shatter all previously held stereotypes about VW
Wow, first time in awhile I've liked a VW GTI. I'm not feeling the side vents as they look more at home on a Clio, but everything else really looks good.
Just about the stupidest thing I have ever seen, except for Fastrat and Piablo.
Lose the idiotic 12-cyl engine and offer the body kit as an option.
Actually having that body kit with no V12 would be much more stupid.
Blakkarr - I mention photoshop only because i am too limited in the field of artifical imaging. So more likely what you said is correct.
Things like the car is driving towards the sun and the exhaust tips are gleaming like their being hit with a light source. Or the 2nd photo has a bright reflection on the lower door sill but not on the lip right above it and the sun is 180 degrees the other way
With this, who needs a Lambo?
I do…
A V12 in a subcompact?
Did we all take stupid pills this morning? Seems so.
VW could've spent the money they spent on this project, I dunno, making a production car under their namesake brand that people actually want to buy. The 12-cylinder powertrain is doing fine with Audi.
maybe gm and a
strong german company can merge hint hint bmw
This is the ultimate "sleeper."
For all you fools who believe this is a 3D CGI or Photoshop ruse: Get a life.
"purpose of this study is not known"
what purpose would such a thing have…?
3 words: halo halo halo
I would never waste my money on this thing-even if it was priced at 40k. It's overkill and ugly to boot.
V-Dub is definitely making a statement with this car, with a substantial amount of Hp and a very significant top speed, pound for pound it's a nice little hb.
That is ####### nasty!!!!
^^ in a good way
lol in a good way!
this is a freak car!!
doubt it will be made
homeboy234 they are great but have you ever herd of shelby super cars?