The Motor Report Auto News Blog

What can you do when your acclaimed Golf GTi with it’s 147kw 2.0-litre turbo-charged engine starts to feel slow and a bit boring? I’m fairly certain that the first idea to come your mind (I know it was for me…) would be to plonk a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine in it! Makes sense…sort of.

Now, I know your next two thoughts would be “torque-steer” and “under-steer” so it becomes immediately clear that the W12 would have to be mid-mounted and drive the rear wheels. There is no point in more go-go if you’re just going to break your wrists and under-steer into the next tree. Now we just need to find a Bentley Continental donor car…

There are obviously one or two rather disturbed petrolheads at VW for whom a regular Golf GTi just doesn’t cut the mustard because they have looked at their Golf GTi and come to the very same conclusion as you and I! The only difference being, that they can make it happen…and have.

VW have just unveiled their completely crazy W12 powered Golf GTi called of all things the Golf GTi W12. Taking inspiration from Renault with their mid-engined V6 RenaultSport Clio, the VW engineers managed to shoe-horn the W12 engine into the space usually reserved for the back seats. The engine is nestled in a purpose built aluminium chassis and powers the rear wheels via a rear mounted transaxle.

The twin-turbocharged W12 pumps out a very healthy 484kw and 750Nm and is said to propel the monster Golf from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 325km/h. Even the 184kw V6 Golf R32 looks a bit limp in this company.

I know that the next question is going to be how much and when….and I’d just like to point out that you have all forgotten about Global Warming and your carbon foot-print. Go and buy a Prius…because this is one environmental vandal that is highly unlikely to see production…mores the pity.