Record-Breaking Volkswagen W12 Nardo Of 2001

The VW Concept Car That Broke Records and Set Itself Apart

There are several approaches that one can get into when looking at the Volkswagen W12 Nardo. It has a multi-faceted story that can only be told through an understanding of its original purpose of coming to be what it was.

To begin with, the Nardo W12 was a car that came first to test a newly introduced engine. The engine went ahead to be a record breaker and the car itself never confined itself to conventionality.

It was outstanding in an exceptional way. The engine wore 12 cylinders that featured a three-cylinder banks arrangement which formed a “W.”

This 6-liter unit generated 591 BHP and 457.6 lb-ft in this coupe, which was enough to distinguish this 2-door coupe in terms of acceleration. Its top speed was 217 mph and this car cruised for an average 200mph for more than 24 hours. It was able to set a whole six records and 12 class records. This was indeed exceptional!

The W12 concept was brought by VW during the 35th Tokyo Motor Show in 2001. There was almost a unanimous agreement of the gracefulness in the W12 Nardo.

Perhaps part of this awesomeness has something to do with famed designer Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign who curved it. It so wonderfully combined the German seriousness with the playful nature of Italy and for that, it became just as amazing as we would have loved it.

The designer gave it air intakes on its front end and several other ventilation elsewhere as if acknowledging that it badly needed as much air for powerful combustion and output. It came out with lots of leather, aluminum, and carbon.

This was an all-around deserving car concept of the last decade. It was able to achieve quite a high level of efficiency and greatness in just about every aspect.