Hard to believe: Volkswagen’s W12 Nardò Concept is approaching its 25th year of existence! We look back at one of the German automaker’s wildest efforts.
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Unveiled at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, the Volkswagen Nardò Concept remains a cornerstone of automotive innovation and design from the early 2000s onwards. This prototype, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, demonstrated Volkswagen’s ambitious leap from practical family cars to what it was all about. he was known for moving into the realm of ultra-fast sports cars.
The concept was a bold exploration of aerodynamics, with a low, flowing profile and sharp lines designed for minimal drag and stability at high speeds. A single, curved glass windshield extended into the roofline, split the gull-wing doors and flowed into a glass hood displaying a powerful W12 engine. This 5.6-litre engine consisted of two 2.8-litre VR6 engines connected to a common crankshaft, developing 309 kW of power, which was channeled through Volkswagen’s Syncro all-wheel drive system and a six-speed sequential gearbox. The concept car’s teardrop-shaped bodywork and integrated rear spoiler, designed to maximize downforce and minimize drag, helped it achieve an impressive drag coefficient of 0.28.
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The Nardò was conceptualized during a period of intense technological experimentation at Volkswagen. Although it attracted a lot of attention upon its unveiling, several factors prevented it from progressing to production. The main challenges were the exorbitant development costs associated with the advanced technology, and the difficulty of integrating such high-end features into a production model. Furthermore, the automotive market’s shifting focus towards practicality and durability further reduced the feasibility of bringing the Nardò to the mass market.
Although the Nardò never entered production, it played an important role in shaping Volkswagen’s high-performance ambitions. The insights gained from its development played a crucial role in the company’s acquisition of Bugatti in 1998. This strategic move aimed to leverage Bugatti’s expertise to develop an ultra-high-performance vehicle. The result was the Bugatti Veyron, which debuted in 2005. The Veyron, with its quad-turbocharged W16 engine and a top speed of over 400 km/h, was a natural evolution of the Nardò’s performance goals.
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The Volkswagen Nardò Concept was more than just a futuristic prototype: it was a testament to Volkswagen’s technical ambition and a precursor to the iconic Bugatti Veyron. The innovative design and advanced technology ultimately paved the way for a new era of high-performance vehicles.
You will find the full article in the November issue of CAR Magazine.
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