March 4, 2002

VW W12 sports car breaks own world record

Click image to enlarge

Nardo, Italy - Volkswagen took a prototype of its W12 sports car to the Nardo high-speed circuit near Lecce in Southern Italy on February 23rd and 24th, and again beat the existing world 24-hour speed record. The W12, with a top speed of 350 km/h, covered a distance of 7,749.4 kilometres at an average speed of 322.89 km/h. The world record recorded on October 14, 2001 with the same car, was beaten by 27.7 km/h, with the car covering 663 kilometres more.

A version of the same engine with an output of 420 horsepower will power the new VW Phaeton W12 luxury sedan that is to have its world première early in March at the Geneva Motor Show.

In addition to the speed record, the seven member team of drivers also took five more world records and twelve international class records according to the official rules drawn up by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)

For all these international class records and world records, average speeds of more than 320 km/h (200 mph) were maintained, with the result that the records set up by the same car last October were surpassed. At that session in the autumn of 2001, Volkswagen's prototype established three world records and six international class records.

Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, the Volkswagen Group's Research Manager said, "The record-breaking runs are an example of perfect cooperation within an experienced international team of technicians and drivers, and the result of engineering practice that admirably demonstrates the supreme performance and reliability of our new W 12 engine."

An overview of the new speed records:

• 100 kilometres: International class record at 322.46 km/h

• 100 miles: International class record at 325.593 km/h

• 1 hour: International class record at 328.16 km/h

• 500 kilometres: International class record at 324.67 km/h

• 500 miles: International class record at 327.39 km/h

• 1000 kilometres: International class record at 325.28 km/h

• 1000 miles: International class record and world speed record at 325.86 km/h

• 6 hours: International class record and world speed record at 325.58 km/h

• 12 hours: International class record and world speed record at 324.88 km/h

• 5000 kilometres: International class record and world speed record at 324.85 km/h

• 24 hours: International class record and world speed record at 322.89 km/h

• 5000 miles: International class record and world speed record at 323.03 km/h

More News....