VOLKSWAGEN CREW SETS up six new world records and twelve international class records with the W12 sports car.

Volkswagen took a prototype of its W12 sports car to the Nardo high-speed circuit near Lecce in Southern Italy on February 23 and 24, and again beat the existing world 24-hour speed record. This exceptional sports car design, 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 set up only shortly before, on October 14, 2001 with the same car, was beaten by 27.7 km/h, with the car covering 663 kilometres more. This improvement is due to the remarkable reliability of the 440 kW (600 bhp) twelve-cylinder engine, to further development work on the car itself and to its highly motivated crew.

A version of the same engine with an output of 309 kW (420 bhp) will power the new Phaeton W12 luxury saloon model that is to have its world première early in March at the Geneva Motor Show opening next week Thursday March 7.

FACTS
· VW W12 Record Car sets new high speed records
· Breaks its own 24 hours record – now with an average speed of 322.89 km/h
· 12 cylinder engine
· 600 bhp
· World record car will also be on show when the Phaeton is premiered in Geneva

Images:
VW W12 at Nardo breaking the 300 km/h wall – picture from last weekend
Record car – street version

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