A unique testbed that pairs a VW W10 powerplant with an BMW M5 chassis is slated for auction in Belgium next week, with estimates ranging from £215 k to £300 k.
In the late 1990s, Ferdinand Piëch, renowned for the Bugatti Veyron, commissioned Volkswagen to develop a rival super-saloon. Lacking a suitable platform, engineers installed the experimental V10 beneath an E39 generation of the German performance sedan. The undertaking was not a formal Volkswagen development programme; it was a private venture that Piëch authorised at an estimated expense of €2 million, meaning the automaker allocated resources outside its regular product pipeline.
The power unit displaces 5.0 litres, delivers 473 bhp and 437 lb-ft of torque, and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. By contrast, the factory-fitted S62 V8 produced 394 bhp and 369 lb-ft.
Broad Arrow Auctions describes the resulting drive as “more immediate, unfiltered” than any factory-spec model, noting that traction control, stability control and ABS were deliberately disabled.
After Piëch’s personal use, the car changed hands about ten years ago. The current owner reports regular drives and a full service completed in 2025, indicating the vehicle remains mechanically sound. During the years it remained in his garage, the prototype was driven discreetly, and Piëch himself logged countless miles behind the wheel, and it was described as a properly driveable thing.
The cabin retains most original BMW fittings, aside from an aftermarket dash that omits an odometer, leaving the exact mileage unknown.
Auction house estimates a final price between £215 k and £300 k (approximately €250 k-€350 k). Only three of these V10 units exist: one stays in Germany, a second is displayed alongside the sale, and the third powers the M5 under discussion.
Photography credit goes to Broad Arrow Auctions, and the sale is scheduled for next week in Belgium.