Leave conventions behind and let your passion awake; since the beginning these were the roots of the GTI idea. Until today they got more than 1.67 million drivers into their spell. Long has the GTI been an icon. A mark for itself.

Since 1982 GTI owners celebrate this annually in the Austrian town Wörthersee. This year, Volkswagen placed a very special GTI before them: the GTI W12 650 showcar. This sports car is a inclination before the GTI friends at the Wörthersee, people for whom the GTI is a myth.

Stronger, Faster

It seems that the GTI W12 650 comes directly from the race track. A GTI that runs like the Pace Car of the 24 hours of Le Mans. Its name means: W12 cylinder, 650 horsepower. A showcar, not more, not less. Nevertheless it shows what enormous potential the GTI has to offer.

3.7 seconds, 201 mph, 554 lb-ft

Its 6.0-liter Biturbo engine is longitudinal and placed directly behind the driver and the front seat passenger. The GTI W12 650 differentiate itself in this way from the classical central engine car. A 6-speed automatic transmission transfers 554 lb-ft to the rear axle. It catapults the GTI W12 650 to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds. With a top speed of 201 mph the GTI W12 650 leaves behind nearly all of the world's supercars.

Still a GTI

The chassis components of the GTI W12 650 were adapted directly from supersports cars. The wheels are of course made from a light alloy and because of the gigantic wheel dimensions a specially engineered tire had to be made.

The goal was clearly defined - despite the partially dramatic technical changes the study should remain completely clear that this is a GTI. Therefore as much parts as possible were taken from the classical GTI like: the headlights, the doors, the front hood and the tail lamps. The axles were pushed 70 millimeters into the body.

The largest problem was to supply the 6-liter central engine with sufficient air and to produce sufficient drift at the rear axle without watering the silhouette of the GTI W12 650. Therefore the C-columns were re-designed in such a way that they lead air to the engine. The rear side windows run inward, so that two channels develop between the disks and the C-columns on the left and on the right to drive air to the engine.

The Carbon-fiber Roof is a Diffuser

Innovative building of the body also prevented that the lines of the GTI W12 650 to get ruined by a putting on a roof wing. The study carries the wing inward. The roof is part of an enormous diffuser, which provides sufficient drift to the rear axle. It's made from carbon fiber and leads air under the normal tail spoiler.

Interior with Racing Ambitions

The leather is alcantara. On the middle range of the armatures are three rows of auxiliary instruments. Transparent "Flip UP" switch guards for central functions like the ESP look like taken directly from the race track.

Fire extinguishers are integrated in the place of the glove compartment.