The first application of the Volkswagen W12 was the 2001 Volkswagen W12, a mid-engined concept car which set the 24‑hour world endurance record in 2001 with a distance of and an average speed of . The first production car to use the W12 engine was the 2001 Audi A8 (D2). Other cars to use the W12 engine are the 2003-present Bentley Continental GT, 2005-present Bentley Continental Flying Spur, 2015-present Bentley Bentayga, 2004-2011 Volkswagen Phaeton W12 and the 2005-2010 Volkswagen Touareg W12. The engine was also used in the 2006 Spyker C12 La Turbie and 2008 Spyker C12 Zagato low-volume sports cars.