Milan, February 2002

Using standard Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres, German car
manufacturer Volkswagen AG set six new world records and several
other high-speed records for passenger cars. The tests were
conducted on February 23th and 24th, on the Nardo test track in
Italy.

The following is the list of world records that were topped by
the VW/Pirelli team:

• 1,000 miles at an average speed of 325.863 km/h
  (previously 319.039 km/h)
• 6 hours at an average speed of 325.584 km/h
  (previously 317.606 km/h)
• 12 hours at an average speed of 324.876 km/h
  (previously 314.274 km/h)
• 5,000 km at an average speed of 324.850 km/h
  (previously 295.440 km/h)
• 24 hours at an average speed of 322.891 km/h
  (previously 295.238 km/h)
• 5,000 miles at an average speed of 323.029 km/h
  (previously 291.869 km/h)

For all international class records and world records, average
speeds of more than 320 kp/h (more than 200 mph) were maintained,
with the result, that the records set up by the same car last
October were surpassed (e.g. previous 24h-worldrecord was beaten by
outstanding 27,7 km/h). At the session in the autumn of 2001,
Volkswagens prototype established three world and six international
class records.

This vehicle was derived from the ” W12 Coup” concept
car, equipped with a 6L mid-engine rated at 600 bhp. The car was
equipped with standard Pirelli P Zero Rosso 255/40 ZR 19 tyres
allowing it to reach a top speed of 350 km/h during its world
record performance.

Cooperation between Pirelli and Volkswagen for setting
high-speed records has a long-standing tradition. As early as 1980,
Volkswagen equipped its then experimental ARVW Diesel car with
those legendary Pirelli P7 wide tyres and set a 1-hour world record
that has yet to be broken. Up to this very day, that record still
stands at a breath-taking average speed of 353.88 km/h, and at a
standing start at that. Together with the latest achieved records,
all possible time world records (1-, 6-, 12- and 24-hours) are now
owned by the VW-Pirelli-connection.