Volkswagen W12#W12 Roadster
{{For|the engine|Volkswagen Group W-12 engine}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Volkswagen W12
| image = File:2008-07-12 Volkswagen W12 Syncro Concept Goodwood.jpg
| caption = The 1997 Volkswagen W12 Syncro at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
| manufacturer = Volkswagen
| engine = 5.6 L Volkswagen Group W12 (W12 Syncro & W12 Roadster)
6.0 L Volkswagen Group W12 (W12 Nardò)
| doors = Scissor
| production = 1997–2001
| class = Sports car (S)
| layout = {{unbulleted list
| Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive (W12 Nardò & W12 Roadster)
| Longitudinal, mid-engine, four-wheel-drive (W12 Syncro)
}}
| designer = Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
| weight =
| transmission = 6 speed manual{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/Volkswagen/22536/Volkswagen-W12-Nardo-Coupe.html|title=Volkswagen W12 Coupe Specs}}
| wheelbase = {{convert|2530|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1100|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1920|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|4400|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
}}
The Volkswagen W12 was a series of concept cars created by Volkswagen Passenger Cars in 1997.
Initial conception
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 Volkswagen's Syncro all-wheel drive system.
Another reason for its conception was to prove to the world that Volkswagen Group can build a supercar and can build a large and reliable engine for its flagship car models such as the Audi A8, Volkswagen Phaeton, and its sport utility vehicle, the Volkswagen Touareg. In fact, the W12 engine featured in the W12 Nardò concept is closely related to the engines found in the Bentley Continental GT and Bentley Flying Spur.
The concepts
=W12 Syncro (1997)=
In 1997, at the Tokyo Motor Show, Volkswagen debuted their first sports car concept, a bright yellow W12 Syncro (also known as the W12 Syncro Coupé) with a 5.6-litre W12 engine producing {{convert|309|kW|PS bhp|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} with Syncro four-wheel drive. This, and the W12 concepts after it, were all designed by the Italdesign firm in Italy. The W12 Syncro had the following specifications:
- Front track: {{Convert|1620|mm|1|abbr=on}}
- Rear track: {{Convert|1600|mm|1|abbr=on}}
- Front overhang: {{Convert|1000|mm|1|abbr=on}}
- Rear overhang: {{Convert|870|mm|1|abbr=on}}
- Engine position: mid longitudinal
- Layout: four-wheel drive
- Engine: {{convert|5600|cc|1}} W12
- Rated power: {{convert|309|kW|PS bhp|0}}
=W12 Roadster (1998)=
It is an open topped version of W12 Syncro with red body colour, rear-wheel drive.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 1998 Geneva Auto Show. It had the following specifications:
- Front track: {{Convert|1634|mm|1|abbr=on}}
- Rear track: {{Convert|1652|mm|1|abbr=on}}
- Front overhang: {{Convert|990|mm|1|abbr=on}}
- Rear overhang: {{Convert|880|mm|1|abbr=on}}
- Engine position: mid longitudinal
- Layout: rear-wheel drive
- Engine: {{convert|5600|cc|1}} W12
- Rated power: {{convert|309|kW|PS bhp|0}}
=W12 Nardò (2001)=
File:Volkswagen W12 Nardo 2001.jpg
File:Volkswagen W12 Nardo 2001 Vue arrière..jpg
In 2001, at the Tokyo Motor Show, Volkswagen Group released their most powerful W12 sports car concept yet, in bright orange (then also known as the W12 Nardò, referring to the Nardò Ring vehicle test track near the Italian city of Nardò). The engine was rated at {{convert|441|kW|PS bhp|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} and {{convert|621|Nm|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} of torque; it could accelerate from a standstill to {{convert|100|km/h|0|abbr=on}} in about 3.5 seconds, and had a top speed of {{convert|357|km/h|1|abbr=on}}, weighing {{convert|1200|kg|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}.
Motorsport
On 23 February 2002, a Volkswagen W12 coupé took the world record for all speed classes over 24 hours over the Nardò Ring at Lecce, covering a distance of {{convert|7740.576|km|1}} at an average speed of {{convert|322.891|km/h|1|abbr=on}}.Notice that original Italian names has stress on the last syllable.{{Cite web |url=http://www.italdesign.it/project/volkswagen-w12-record-eng |title=W12 Record |access-date=2013-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708045444/http://www.italdesign.it/project/volkswagen-w12-record-eng |archive-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=dead }}
In media
The cars have been portrayed in games, such as Gran Turismo, Asphalt 8, Asphalt 9, Project Gotham Racing 3, GTI Racing, World Racing 2 and the Test Drive series. The W12 Nardò also featured in a 2013 April Fools joke as the new Volkswagen LeVanto.[https://www.facebook.com/VW/photos/a.172364490789.252046.169890760789/10152701162305790/?type=1 Volkswagen on Facebook]
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Italdesign pages: [https://archive.today/20131121220735/http://www.italdesign.it/project/volkswagen-w12-syncro-eng W12 Syncro], [https://archive.today/20131121220730/http://www.italdesign.it/project/volkswagen-w12-roadster-eng W12 Roadster], [https://web.archive.org/web/20110708045457/http://www.italdesign.it/project/volkswagen-w12-nardo-eng W12 Nardò], [http://www.italdesign.it/en/projects/volkswagen-w12-record-eng/ W12 Record]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051224105158/http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/vw_w12.asp Volkswagen W12 Concept – RSportsCars.com]
{{Volkswagen}}