When Volkswagen wanted to build a twelve-cylinder sports car
The VW W12, a super sports car with a carbon fiber body and a kerb weight of just 1200 kg, was presented in Tokyo at the end of 1997.
It was 4.4 meters long and 1.92 meters wide. Behind the driver's cab was a 12-cylinder engine just over half a meter short, which actually consisted of two VR6 engines combined in a V-shape. The W12 was born, an engine with four rows of three cylinders, 48 valves and four camshafts. 420 hp at 5800 rpm was announced. And an entire engine family to go with it, as the concept also allowed for a W8 or a W10.
The AMS reports at the time spoke of courage, but also of cynicism (a Volkswagen with 12 cylinders?). The fact that a VW could also have large engines was later demonstrated by the Phaeton. However, they still did not dare to produce a super sports car in series.
Nevertheless, the coupé was later given a roadster sister and set several records itself in Nardo, which also earned it the nickname of the famous high-speed circuit.
And, of course, other vehicles in the Group benefited from the know-how gained.
