The day Volkswagen stuck a W12 engine in a Golf GTI!
- Published on 25/02/2026 7:37
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Golf GTI in 2026, Volkswagen has pulled out its most insane concept from the museum: the Golf GTI W12-650.
Unveiled in 2007 at the Wörthersee GTI festival, this unique model transforms a mundane Golf Mk5 GTI into an absolute monster. Unable to fit a W12 engine at the front? Volkswagen therefore placed it in a mid-rear position, turning the compact car into a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with a central engine. The block? A 6.0-liter twin-turbo borrowed from the Bentley Continental GT, developing 650 hp (477 kW) and 750 Nm of torque.
With a 6-speed automatic transmission from the Phaeton, front brakes from the Audi RS4, a rear axle, and discs from the Lamborghini Gallardo, it claims a 0-100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 325 km/h. Because yes, this Golf drives, and it drives very fast!
Why restrain yourself?
The chassis, widened by 160 mm and lowered by 70 mm, along with the enormous rear wheels fitted with 295 tires, highlight the extravagance. A Golf that has little more than its name, capable of supercar performance in a familiar silhouette. Powered at the rear wheels, it promised explosive handling – and terribly dangerous – on open roads.
This pure show car was never intended for production, but it embodies the crazy era when Volkswagen dared to take the wildest risks, in the shadow of the W12 from the Bugatti Veyron. After years of dormancy, Volkswagen restored it and repainted it in Tornado Red for the GTI anniversary, releasing recent photos and videos on its social media. The W12 still screams loudly, reminding us that the GTI can be much more than a compact car for a family man seeking thrills.
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Today, in the face of modern Golf Rs, this W12-650 remains an untouchable legend: more powerful, more absurd, more mythical. A vibrant tribute to the rebellious roots of the GTI.
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This page is translated from the original post "Le jour où Volkswagen a collé un moteur W12 dans une Golf GTI !" in French.
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