Bugatti Veyron
It has been a while since we here at Car Lust have covered a supercar. Let the record show that the following is the greatest production supercar ever created--so far, at least. Additionally, in a world filled with excess, few vehicles exhibit their excess in as beautiful a fashion as the Bugatti Veyron.
The greatest supercar ever created? Yes. Yes indeed. For starters, the Bugatti Veyron is powered by a 8.0-liter turbocharged W-16 cylinder motor with four-wheel-drive. At peak capacity these cylinders pump out 1001 horsepower and 920 ft-lbs of torque. No, that is not a typo. The motor configuration is a "W"--so think of two narrow V-8s grafted together. It has four turbochargers. To get that power to the ground, the Veyron utilizes the same launch control technology as Formula 1 race cars, which allows it to keep maximum traction as you work your way through all seven gears.
Sounds fast doesn't it? How about a top speed of more than 408 kilometers per hour – that's 253 mph. So fast I don't need an exclamation point. That is 1/3 the speed of sound, for those keeping score at home. The video at the end of this post provides evidence of this capability.
From the Bugatti website:
“The car documents state a maximum velocity of 407 km/h, but that’s an understatement. On April 19, 2005, inspection officials recorded a top speed average of 408.47 km/h. For years, the Bugatti engineers had worked diligently in order to push the 400 km/h boundary. No wind tunnel can simulate this velocity, which is why after each of a long series of improvements, the different ground clearance levels and the modifications of the rear fenders, spoiler and underbody were tested separately on high-speed test ranges. This ambition and diligence paid off, as the official speed measurement proves.
"The Veyron’s high velocity is due to the perfect combination of engine technology, consistent lightweight construction, specially developed tires, and the complex balance of propulsion and down force. For not only the aerodynamic drag is a crucial factor at very high speeds, but also the precise adjustment of the downforce that holds the car to the road surface. And in addition to all this, the Veyron production vehicle meets the highest safety, reliability and maneuverability standards of even the most discerning drivers.”
To
access the higher speeds, Bugatti has built a system into the Veyron
called the "Topspeed Key." This must be activated prior to your top
speed run. It is one final step to give you a last chance to turn back.
You can get from 0-60mph in 2.46 seconds, making it the quickest
production vehicle available. You can be at 125 mph in 7.4 seconds, 150
mph in 9.8 seconds, and 200 mph in 24.2 seconds. When the car reaches
137 mph it automatically lowers itself to a ground clearance of 3.5
inches (avoid speed bumps!). Along with this, the spoiler and wing
deploy and will begin to add downforce to keep you stuck to the road as
speeds increase. If you have it in top speed mode, you will have even
less clearance, with the car running at 2.6 inches off the ground.
At top speed, the special Michelin tires will only last for 15 minutes. The good news is that the fuel capacity only allows 12 minutes at this speed! Lest you think this is a one-trick pony, the Veyron also decelerates at record-breaking (braking?) speed. Bugatti claims that you can drop from 200 mph to 0 in less than 10 seconds.
With this privilege comes 7 mpg in town and 10 mpg on the road. And if you have to ask how much it costs, it probably costs too much. But if you really have to have one, plan on $2,360,000 at today’s conversion rate for the base model.
--Big Chris
GM on November 05, 2008 at 08:50 AM
15 minutes for the tyres and 12 for the fuel. Not 15 and 12 seconds as in the post ;)
Cookie the Dog's Owner on November 05, 2008 at 10:48 AM
It's a magnificent piece of engineering. After you've gone out and arranged for your speed run on the VW test track, what do you do with it? Drive to Giant Eagle and park next to the shopping cart return paddock? Go through the drive-through at McDonald's? Somehow, I just don't see it.
John Bono on November 05, 2008 at 12:04 PM
All fine and dandy, but where are the cupholders?
Smoke_Jaguar4 on November 05, 2008 at 01:28 PM
This is not a car meant for public roadways. When it's not at the track, it will be on the back of a trailer or in an specialized climate controlled maintenance bay (err, garage). At $2.3 million and that speed, I don't think you could even insure it for the street, let alone actually register it.
Still, this is the perfect car for the Gordon Gekkos left in the world.
Asterio on November 05, 2008 at 03:19 PM
SSC Ultimate Aero beat this car a while ago.
Get with the times.
Rob the SVX Guy on November 05, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Asterio: He said quickest, not fastest. The SSC beat it's top speed, but not it's acceleration to my knowledge. The SSC isn't in the same league as this car anyways. If you've seen both, you'd know what I mean. One is a racecar for the road, ala F40, the other is just excessive EVERYTHING, including luxury. It's so well engineered your grandmother could get it over 200mph. The Veyron uses magnesium for things like turn signal stalks.... it is the ultimate car. Period. VW built them at a loss, so I doubt this car will be eclipsed anytime soon.
Brian on November 05, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Ha! Cookie.
Asterio on November 05, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Maybe someone should do a comparison, but until then, I'll take your word for it.
Big Chris on November 05, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Silly me. Of course it runs 15 minutes on the tires and 12 on the gas, NOT seconds. That's what you get when your author writes posts at WAAAYYYY too late at night. And yes, the SSC has a faster top speed, but there is no comparison between these two vehicles. One is pure opulence with devistating performance. The other (SSC) is simply a race car for the street. Both cool, both fast, but not all that similar other than that.
Eddie B. on November 06, 2008 at 06:13 AM
Seems ironic; in the midst of the worst economic crisis in a generation that such a vehicle would be produced. Pure excess; impractical, even for the wealthiest.
How American.
nick on November 06, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Eddie: Last time I checked its not an American car.
meccano on November 06, 2008 at 12:08 PM
If I may expand on the American theme: Ettore Bugatti was an Italian and set up shop in France, where the current incarnation of the company is located and is owned by German VW's division in France. The Veyron is named after the French car driver Pierre Veyron. ItalDesign's Giorgetto Giugiaro designed three concept cars for the relaunch of the Bugatti marque. The designers of the current Veyron are German and Slovak. Paris based Hermes worked on a version of the Veyron with Bugatti. The engine has its origins with Audi and a variant was used in a Bentley concept car. Speaking of the UK, a English firm work on the tranny. The car was announced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2001 and the final version presented at Château Saint Jean in 2005. Pure excess? Yes'm. Impractical? Well, of course you are correct although one could say it is strangely practical for being a uber high speed supercar. American? This car is truly in the spirit of Formula One not NASCAR. So American? Decidedly no. In terms of design, engineering or manufacturing it couldn't really be more European.