Mentalist 200mph Golf GTi
16 August 2007 That's exactly what happened when Volkswagen let some of its engineers go mad in the VeeDub factory. Stuart Milne reckons the GTi W12-650 could be the finest Golf GTi ever built. A few years ago, Volkswagen hit back at the modified car scene with its 'Some things are better left alone' campaign. That saw a series of forlorn-looking Mk4 GTis sitting in the rain with some chipboard spoilers. Now it seems the German giant has had a change of heart and created the most heart-stopping über-Golf ever to see the light of day. It made its debut at the massive Wörthersee Volkswagen show earlier this year, and was the only car to upstage the bonkers roofless Audi TT Clubsport Quattro. And it's not hard to see why. The wide-mouth, big-bummed beauty is extreme in a way only the Clio V6 can begin to understand. A pair of enormous side vents dominate the sides, sucking in cold air to feed the 6-litre powerplant. And it's finished in white – the only colour to have your Mk5 GTi sprayed in. The interior hasn't escaped the designer's attention either. The rear seats have been chucked in a skip to make way for the engine, and the interior has been given a full compliment of white highlights.
Incredibly the concept went from an artist's scribbling to a driveable reality in just six weeks. And perhaps more surprisingly, most of the W12-650 comes straight from the Volkswagen/Audi parts bin. A Phaeton luxury car gave up its engine for the cause, while a rear section of an Audi R8's chassis supports the rear-mounted engine. Some serious stopping power was required, so Lamborghini's factory was plundered for a set of huge brakes. So what does this all add up to? Try 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds, and a V-max 0.2mph shy of 202mph. This is the only Golf capable of scaring the spit out of a fearless BMW M5 or Ferrari driver. Sadly it will be the only W12-650 ever to grace the tarmac, but while there's nutters who have the vision and the budget to build these things, the world will be a faster place.
L.A.T.W.O.T. Video of the Week You've seen the pictures, now hear the W12-650 on the move. Awesome.
Auto Trader links Look at the Wheels on That features Look at the Wheels on That: VW Golf GTi Mk5 More Look at Wheels on That columns Modified Volkswagen articles The world’s fastest Volkswagen Golf? Other modified supercars Ballistic 507bhp BMW M3 – first pics |
So why not a wild makeover inside as well as out?Page 1
