A plea was made yesterday seeking aid in decoding the enigma surrounding a W10 engine believed to be a forgotten VW prototype from the early 2000s. Today, a surprising revelation surfaced that not only associates the engine with VW but also reveals the fate of one of the three remaining prototypes. It was incorporated into a BMW M5, resulting in a transformation so remarkable that the W engine’s creator, Ferdinand Piëch, purportedly adopted it as his personal vehicle. The pace at which this narrative developed is truly astounding.
These details emerged from an ongoing sales listing by
GDM Motors, a Belgian-German GT racing team. They are advertising an E39 M5 reportedly utilized as a test vehicle by VW, equipped with a prototype W10 engine. Unless a clandestine engineer is clandestinely producing these W10 prototypes, it is highly probable that these two engines are closely related.
Prototype VW W10-powered BMW M5 (E39). GDM Motors
The narrative dictated that VW lacked suitable test vehicles for the W10 engine, leading them to enlist an M5 for this purpose. (BMW did not introduce a V10 in the M5 until the E60 model of 2004.) Piëch, the mastermind behind the W engine, evidently appreciated the outcome so much that he adopted the vehicle as his personal conveyance. The circumstances surrounding its liberation from the grasp of a corporate giant like VW remain unclear but are not unprecedented.
In the absence of an official declaration from Volkswagen, this discovery brings us as close as possible to confirming the legitimacy of the W10 as a VW initiative. By visually comparing the incomplete prototype referenced in our previous coverage to the BMW’s engine, similarities in cylinder head and engine block characteristics can be discerned. This indicates that they are the same engines, suggesting that the specifications of the M5’s engine align with the capabilities of the incomplete prototype.
Dismantled prototype VW W10 motor. @unvrnunft on Instagram
The disassembled W10 prototype owner isn’t any closer to getting their engine running, but it does provide some answers. Two of these mysterious motors are identified. Even though the rumored third W10 hasn’t reappeared, having two out of three survivors is still commendable.
We’ve contacted GDM Motors for additional information and perhaps a video of the running vehicle (if it’s running at all). However, the trail may go cold until someone acquires it and checks the glove box for development documents. This won’t come cheap as the price is only disclosed upon request; it’s one of those instances where if you have to ask about the price, it’s likely expensive. Nonetheless, the fact that we have learned this much about the W10’s history is a gratifying achievement.
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