On the top of Ferdinand Piëch’s reign on the Volkswagen Group, nothing appeared unattainable. The corporate’s vastly costly technological push culminated within the all-conquering Veyron—however do you know that VW constructed a supercar earlier than buying Bugatti?
The W12 Syncro idea debuted on the 1997 Tokyo Motor Present with a 5.6-liter engine created by becoming a member of two 2.8-liter VR6 items tailored from top-spec Golf sizzling hatches. With 414 horsepower despatched to all 4 wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission, it was a full-fledged supercar, backed up by a design penned by Italdesign’s Giorgetto Giugiaro.
The top-turning W12 Roadster adopted a 12 months later on the 1998 Geneva Motor Present, and other than the completely different physique model, there was one other main change. VW switched the open-top model to a rear-wheel-drive format whereas retaining the remainder of the underpinnings. On the time, the corporate claimed the roadster would hit 62 miles per hour in about 4 seconds.
1998 VW W12 Roadster idea
Picture by: Volkswagen
That wasn’t the top of the W12 supercar story, although, as the ultimate chapter was by far probably the most spectacular. Quick-forward to 2001, when VW introduced plans to interrupt the 24-hour velocity document on the Nardo Ring in southern Italy. Within the years because the unique idea debuted, the challenge had developed significantly. The displacement grew to six.0 liters whereas the engine’s weight was saved in verify at 527 kilos. Output climbed to 591 hp, and the car’s curb weight dropped to simply 2,646 lbs, break up in a super 50:50 ratio.
With the dash to 62 mph taking lower than three and a half seconds earlier than topping out at greater than 217 mph, it was actually no slouch. Though not fairly in the identical league because the legendary McLaren F1, the W12 Nardo stays one of many quickest naturally aspirated automobiles ever constructed. VW’s final model of the supercar turns 25 this 12 months, and whereas it by no means reached manufacturing, its two document runs at Nardo ensured it could by no means be forgotten.
2001 VW W12 Nardo idea
Picture by: Volkswagen
The primary try with the improved model befell on October 14, 2001, with the late Ferdinand Piëch himself current on the Nardo round observe. Though the W12 averaged 183.452 mph (295.238 km/h) over the 24-hour run and claimed 9 data, Piëch was not happy. Identified for ruling with an iron fist, the VW Group boss demanded the workforce return and crack the 186 mph (300 km/h) barrier.
On February 23, 2002, the W12 returned to Nardò. This time, VW introduced two prototypes, one in every of which served as a backup automobile and had beforehand been used to check on a Lamborghini Murciélago chassis. Through the high-speed endurance run, the W12 Nardo stopped each 80 minutes to refuel, change tires, and swap drivers—all whereas the clock saved ticking.
| Report Distance / Time | Common Pace (mph) | Common Pace (km/h) |
| 100 kilometers | 200.369 | 322.464 |
| 100 miles | 202.314 | 325.593 |
| 500 kilometers | 201.741 | 324.672 |
| 500 miles | 203.430 | 327.390 |
| 1,000 kilometers | 202.119 | 325.280 |
| 1,000 miles | 202.481 | 325.863 |
| 5,000 kilometers | 201.852 | 324.850 |
| 5,000 miles | 200.727 | 323.039 |
| 1 hour | 203.909 | 328.160 |
| 6 hours | 202.308 | 325.584 |
| 12 hours | 201.868 | 324.876 |
| 24 hours | 200.635 | 322.891 |
It went on to interrupt six world data and one other six worldwide class data, together with the very best common velocity over 24 hours. The W12 was clocked at 322.891 km/h (200.635 mph), an enormous enchancment over the earlier try just a few months earlier.
Regardless that the W12 Nardo surprised the automotive world with its headline-grabbing numbers, it’s straightforward to see why it by no means made it to manufacturing. A supercar sporting a VW badge made little sense within the early 2000s, particularly when the corporate already had Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Bentley beneath its company umbrella. The Veyron took precedence, and the remaining is historical past.
Nonetheless, whereas the W12 supercar was left on the proverbial reducing room flooring, its engine entered manufacturing within the Audi A8 the identical 12 months the Nardo automobile shattered these data. Volkswagen additionally used the engine within the Phaeton and Touareg, however Bentley carried the W12 torch the longest. In 2024, the final W12 powered the beautiful Batur.
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Supply: Volkswagen
For many years, VW had an excellent greater engine: the quad-turbo W16. It powered each the Veyron and the Chiron, earlier than making approach for the Tourbillon’s naturally aspirated V16. Nevertheless, Porsche’s current choice to promote its stake in Bugatti Rimac means the VW Group is cutting ties with Bugatti, successfully marking the top of an period.
Consequently, the most important engine the German automotive conglomerate at the moment affords is the V12 within the Revuelto. Regardless of more and more stringent emissions laws, Lamborghini advised us in an interview final 12 months that the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter unit nonetheless has a bright future.
As a last reminder of how unbelievably thrilling the Piëch period was, the 1999 Bugatti Chiron concept featured a ridiculous W18 engine.
