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VWVortex.com Events Coverage Editors note: Following below is a short wrapup of some of the activities that took place at Worthersee in Austria. One of our contributors was at the unveiling of the 650hp twin-turbo W12650 concept GTI at the show. He had a chance to talk to some of the VW representatives on hand at Worthersee and they told him that the W12-650 shows what a potential World Rally Championship Golf/GTI would look like as VW would like to get back into WRC in the future. VW representatives also mentioned the possibility of actually building and selling about 100 W12-650 GTI models at approximately €90,000-€100,000 each to help fund the WRC race program. The W12-650 GTI that was displayed at the show was undergoing testing prior to the event where it reportedly topped out at more than 230mph - a bit more than VW's quoted 202mph top speed. Because VW is limited in transmissions available that can handle the torque of the twin-turbo W12 engine, the concept is equipped with the same tiptronic automatic gearbox found in the Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur. The rear compartment is completely sealed off from the front seat area of the car and the W12 is mounted in a rearward configuration driving the rear wheels only at this point.
The 26th Wörthersee Tour from 16 to 20 May 2007 celebrated several firsts this year. Both Volkswagen and Audi were represented officially for the first time as manufacturers at the legendary meet in Reifnitz am Wörthersee. Attendance of the event was expected to number more than 200,000 who were lucky enough to see the world premiere of the Volkswagen GTI W12-650 and Audi TT clubsport quattro design studies. Both Volkswagen group brands made their debut in southern Austria this year to satisfy the many marque enthusiasts who attend. In recent years, the Wörthersee Tour, better known as the “GTI Meet”, has become a magnet for high-performance enthusiasts and fans of the Volkswagen and Audi brands. In 2007, more than 200,000 visitors and 50,000 vehicles converged the Carinthian Lakes region to attend the event, which was held under the slogan “The lake is calling”.
Volkswagen at Worthersee Daring to create something unique, leaving conventions behind and awakening passion – these have been at the heart of the GTI concept since its inception. To date, more than 1.67 million car drivers have fallen under its charm. The Golf GTI has been an icon for a long time now. A brand in itself. A label of sportiness. To drive a GTI is to make a statement; across the globe. Since 1982, its greatest fans have been celebrating it every year at the Wörthersee. For this occasion, Volkswagen put a Golf on wheels that is like no other: The GTI W12-650 showcar. This sports car is a tribute to our GTI friends at the Wörthersee, car enthusiasts who made the GTI a legend. It is a concept that was designed just for them. No Golf has ever been more powerful, wider, or faster. The GTI W12-650 gives the appearance of having come directly from the racetrack. A Golf that could be the pace car for the 24 hour race at Le Mans. Its name is its mission: W12 cylinders, 650 PS (477 kW at 6,000 rpm). A showcar, no more, no less. At the same time it demonstrates the enormous potential that such a car can offer. Further honoring the tradition of the GTI, Wolfsburg chose Worthersee for the return of the Golf GTI Pirelli. With this premiere, Volkswagen is continuing the history of one of the best known limited edition models in Europe. In May 1983, the “Original Pirelli” arrived on the market. It was based on the first generation, second series Golf GTI. A distinctive identifying feature: Specially designed alloy wheels with the “Pirelli P” on their outer edges. A remarkable 10,500 cars of the special model were built and sold within half a year. Then it was over – a limited edition! If there were an Automobile Hall of Fame for young-timers, the “Pirelli GTI”, as it was called by its fans, would have long held a place there.
The legendary tire tracks of the young-timer are now being extended by the new Golf GTI Pirelli. And indeed with completely new Pirelli high-performance tires too. They are wrapped around powerful 18-inch Pirelli wheels in Titanium look. The car’s interior has been upgraded with a partial-leather sports seat system that has an embedded tire tread pattern. Instead of the previous 112 PS the new car converts 230 PS into forward propulsion. If needed, a 245 km/h top speed is within the car’s capabilities. In 6.8 seconds the Turbo-FSI propels the GTI Pirelli to 100 km/h from a standstill. The Golf GTI Pirelli, conceptualized by Volkswagen Individual, will be presented in a worldwide debut between May 16 and 20. The occasion and site of this premiere are a perfect fit: The international GTI Meeting at Wörthersee, Austria. Production will begin in September. Audi at Worthersee A particular highlight for Audi enthusiasts was the world premiere of the Audi TT clubsport quattro study, when Audi presented a very special TT model. TT and A3 models in a wealth of sporty road versions and a number of dazzling special versions were also on display. To further fire the enthusiasm of the car-mad international audience, Audi also displayed the A3 that will be on the grid at the next 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. The mid-engined R8 sports car, the RS 4 Cabriolet and the brand-new S5 will rounded off the contingent of sporty Audi models.
To ensure that visits to the Wörthersee Tour were an unforgettable Audi experience, drivers of cars built by the brand with the four rings could have themselves and their vehicle photographed at the stand. There were a choice of four different backdrops to set the right scene for the photographs. The debut of Volkswagen and Audi in Carinthia reflects their support of the meet for car enthusiasts and comes in response to the ever-increasing passion for these brands. Besides a wealth of other stunning exhibits, for visitors to Reifnitz, the Volkswagen GTI W12-650 and TT clubsport quattro were undisputed highlight of the Wörthersee Tour 2007.
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