Bugatti: Veyron News
12-06-2005, 10:19 PM
#201
I'm the Firestarter
I can't wait to get my hands on a 1/18th model at Toys R Us...
12-26-2005, 08:38 PM
#202
Suzuka Master
Bugatti Veyron 16.4: To Drive the Impossible Dream
December 25, 2005
Behind the Wheel
Bugatti Veyron 16.4: To Drive the Impossible Dream
By RICHARD FEAST
MOLSHEIM, France
MANY people thought that Volkswagen lost touch with its customer base in 2003 when it introduced the Phaeton, a luxury sedan perfectly wonderful in almost every way save for a price tag that veered uncomfortably close to six figures.
What, then, will the skeptics make of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, the fastest, most powerful and - no surprise - most expensive production car in the world? Bugatti is owned by VW, and the Veyron's engine is related, if distantly, to the W-8 power plant available in the last-generation Passat.
Not to worry; the Veyron's credentials speak for themselves. A 1,001-horsepower two-seater that blasts to 60 miles an hour in 2.5 seconds - and continues pulling all the way to 253 m.p.h. - the car is a sheer technological wonder.
Still, nothing prepares the newcomer for the reality behind the bald performance statistics. The Veyron is blisteringly, and effortlessly, fast. Other vehicles on the road appear to stop as the Veyron whooshes past with the ease of a Formula One car. It is a sobering realization that the grand prix racer is not as fast as a Veyron.
Even stationary, the Veyron looks like a car that takes no prisoners. Slightly less than 176 inches long (no longer than a Kia Spectra) and almost 79 inches wide, it is surprisingly compact. Most of the space inside seems to be occupied by an enormous 16-cylinder engine, a seven-speed transaxle and an all-wheel-drive system. Ten radiators are required to disperse all the heat the Veyron's mechanical systems generate.
The car's two-tone paint, horseshoe-shape grille and center dashboard panel of engine-turned aluminum reach back to Bugatti's design heritage. The interior is exquisite; details like vents and door pulls are made of machined and polished aluminum.
Over all, the car represents an extraordinary blend of opulence and power. As luxurious as a Maybach, the Veyron provides a level of comfort far beyond that of quasi racers like the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche Carrera GT, neither of which can match its acceleration, top speed or braking.
Thomas Bscher, president of Bugatti Automobiles, is just as proud of the car's refined manners. "This car can be driven by anyone," he said, a statement clearly begging to be substantiated.
The mighty motor rumbles to life at the touch of the starter button. Despite its placement just a few inches behind the driver's shoulders, the engine produces a muted growl that is music to the enthusiast.
Venturing onto the highways here, near Bugatti's headquarters in the Alsace region of France, the car's rarity and value generate considerable apprehension. Embarrassment, injury, a big repair bill or worse await a driver who does not show proper respect.
The automated seven-speed transmission shifts gears so seamlessly that the only clue is a change in the engine note. The car's unfamiliarity erodes with the miles; speed simultaneously increases. It seems entirely natural to shift using the gearshift paddles mounted on the steering wheel .
The ride over poor surfaces is amazing for such a taut high-performance car. The steering is so precise that the Veyron feels almost as nimble as a Miata.
It would be nice to relate that this reporter's driving skills are capable of wringing the maximum from the Veyron. They are not, but they were enough to determine that at really high speeds the car is quiet, comfortable, refined - and as easy to drive as Mr. Bscher says. The car's everyday top speed of 234 m.p.h. is enough to make it a king of the road. To be the performance emperor, though, the driver must resort to a second ignition key to the left of his seat.
The key functions only when the vehicle is at a stop. A checklist then establishes whether the car - and its driver - are ready to go for the maximum speed beyond 250 m.p.h. If all systems are go, the rear spoiler retracts, the front air diffusers close and the ground clearance, normally 4.9 inches, drops to 2.6 inches.
To appreciate the Veyron's performance extremes, ride along with Pierre-Henri Raphanel, a former professional racer who demonstrates the car to potential buyers.
Mr. Raphanel looks relaxed as he blasts the Veyron to almost 180 m.p.h. Other traffic and roadside objects appear and vanish in a blurred, real-life re-enactment of a computer game before he eases off.
When the freeway empties, Mr. Raphanel demonstrates the Veyron's brakes. The car's speed simply vanishes - braking to a stop from 250 m.p.h. takes less than 10 seconds, he said - but for the passenger, there is an equally astonishing experience: the driver is holding both hands in the air and wearing a big grin. The car has stopped in a straight line with no corrections at the steering wheel. If anything, the giant carbon-ceramic brakes and the rear air brake are more impressive than the acceleration.
Everything about the Veyron is shaped by superlatives, but even Mr. Bscher acknowledges, "Nobody needs a car like this."
Indeed, who could argue that it isn't a frivolous liability? On what roads can it be tested, given that it reaches speeds in excess of those achieved in qualifying laps for the Indianapolis 500? When the Veyron was recorded at 253 m.p.h., it was on a test track in Germany.
How relaxed would an owner be about leaving a Veyron in a parking structure for a couple of hours? How anxious would he be handing the ignition key to a parking valet?
The fuel economy - if that is the right word - is 9 miles per gallon in the city and 18 highway, according to preliminary E.P.A. estimates. Don't even think about mileage during more spirited driving: at maximum speed, the car would theoretically run out of fuel in 12 minutes, Mr. Raphanel said.
A giant automotive achievement, the Veyron owes its existence to Ferdinand Piëch, who bought rights to the fabled Bugatti name in 1998, when he was chairman of Volkswagen, with the goal of building the ultimate supercar.
Bringing it to market required an unwavering commitment by Mr. Piëch, a man with a reputation as a brilliant engineer, though many have questioned his grasp on commercial reality.
With four turbochargers, the Veyron's mighty 8-liter, 16-cylinder power plant produces 1,001 horsepower and enough torque (922 pound-feet) to uproot a redwood. The engine drives all four wheels via a seven-speed automated manual gearbox.
Despite extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum, the Veyron is, at 4,162 pounds, quite heavy. Even so, the car is capable of staggering acceleration: from zero to 125 miles an hour in 7.3 seconds and to 250 in 55.6 seconds, according to Bugatti.
The price, for those indiscreet enough to ask, is $1.2 million in the United States, before taxes.
Theoretically, several of Volkswagen's rivals could create a Veyron alternative; some could even afford to. Mr. Bscher says the project cost no more than some automakers spend each year on Formula One racing - perhaps $400 million. In today's harsh business environment, though, automakers face challenges that make it unlikely they would allocate the technical and financial resources to one-up the Veyron.
Creating cars for plutocrats was a curious strategy for the manufacturer of the People's Car. The results, nevertheless, are now available to the handful of buyers with the necessary wherewithal.
INSIDE TRACK: The sports car NASA would build.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/au...es/25AUTO.html
Behind the Wheel
Bugatti Veyron 16.4: To Drive the Impossible Dream
By RICHARD FEAST
MOLSHEIM, France
MANY people thought that Volkswagen lost touch with its customer base in 2003 when it introduced the Phaeton, a luxury sedan perfectly wonderful in almost every way save for a price tag that veered uncomfortably close to six figures.
What, then, will the skeptics make of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, the fastest, most powerful and - no surprise - most expensive production car in the world? Bugatti is owned by VW, and the Veyron's engine is related, if distantly, to the W-8 power plant available in the last-generation Passat.
Not to worry; the Veyron's credentials speak for themselves. A 1,001-horsepower two-seater that blasts to 60 miles an hour in 2.5 seconds - and continues pulling all the way to 253 m.p.h. - the car is a sheer technological wonder.
Still, nothing prepares the newcomer for the reality behind the bald performance statistics. The Veyron is blisteringly, and effortlessly, fast. Other vehicles on the road appear to stop as the Veyron whooshes past with the ease of a Formula One car. It is a sobering realization that the grand prix racer is not as fast as a Veyron.
Even stationary, the Veyron looks like a car that takes no prisoners. Slightly less than 176 inches long (no longer than a Kia Spectra) and almost 79 inches wide, it is surprisingly compact. Most of the space inside seems to be occupied by an enormous 16-cylinder engine, a seven-speed transaxle and an all-wheel-drive system. Ten radiators are required to disperse all the heat the Veyron's mechanical systems generate.
The car's two-tone paint, horseshoe-shape grille and center dashboard panel of engine-turned aluminum reach back to Bugatti's design heritage. The interior is exquisite; details like vents and door pulls are made of machined and polished aluminum.
Over all, the car represents an extraordinary blend of opulence and power. As luxurious as a Maybach, the Veyron provides a level of comfort far beyond that of quasi racers like the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche Carrera GT, neither of which can match its acceleration, top speed or braking.
Thomas Bscher, president of Bugatti Automobiles, is just as proud of the car's refined manners. "This car can be driven by anyone," he said, a statement clearly begging to be substantiated.
The mighty motor rumbles to life at the touch of the starter button. Despite its placement just a few inches behind the driver's shoulders, the engine produces a muted growl that is music to the enthusiast.
Venturing onto the highways here, near Bugatti's headquarters in the Alsace region of France, the car's rarity and value generate considerable apprehension. Embarrassment, injury, a big repair bill or worse await a driver who does not show proper respect.
The automated seven-speed transmission shifts gears so seamlessly that the only clue is a change in the engine note. The car's unfamiliarity erodes with the miles; speed simultaneously increases. It seems entirely natural to shift using the gearshift paddles mounted on the steering wheel .
The ride over poor surfaces is amazing for such a taut high-performance car. The steering is so precise that the Veyron feels almost as nimble as a Miata.
It would be nice to relate that this reporter's driving skills are capable of wringing the maximum from the Veyron. They are not, but they were enough to determine that at really high speeds the car is quiet, comfortable, refined - and as easy to drive as Mr. Bscher says. The car's everyday top speed of 234 m.p.h. is enough to make it a king of the road. To be the performance emperor, though, the driver must resort to a second ignition key to the left of his seat.
The key functions only when the vehicle is at a stop. A checklist then establishes whether the car - and its driver - are ready to go for the maximum speed beyond 250 m.p.h. If all systems are go, the rear spoiler retracts, the front air diffusers close and the ground clearance, normally 4.9 inches, drops to 2.6 inches.
To appreciate the Veyron's performance extremes, ride along with Pierre-Henri Raphanel, a former professional racer who demonstrates the car to potential buyers.
Mr. Raphanel looks relaxed as he blasts the Veyron to almost 180 m.p.h. Other traffic and roadside objects appear and vanish in a blurred, real-life re-enactment of a computer game before he eases off.
When the freeway empties, Mr. Raphanel demonstrates the Veyron's brakes. The car's speed simply vanishes - braking to a stop from 250 m.p.h. takes less than 10 seconds, he said - but for the passenger, there is an equally astonishing experience: the driver is holding both hands in the air and wearing a big grin. The car has stopped in a straight line with no corrections at the steering wheel. If anything, the giant carbon-ceramic brakes and the rear air brake are more impressive than the acceleration.
Everything about the Veyron is shaped by superlatives, but even Mr. Bscher acknowledges, "Nobody needs a car like this."
Indeed, who could argue that it isn't a frivolous liability? On what roads can it be tested, given that it reaches speeds in excess of those achieved in qualifying laps for the Indianapolis 500? When the Veyron was recorded at 253 m.p.h., it was on a test track in Germany.
How relaxed would an owner be about leaving a Veyron in a parking structure for a couple of hours? How anxious would he be handing the ignition key to a parking valet?
The fuel economy - if that is the right word - is 9 miles per gallon in the city and 18 highway, according to preliminary E.P.A. estimates. Don't even think about mileage during more spirited driving: at maximum speed, the car would theoretically run out of fuel in 12 minutes, Mr. Raphanel said.
A giant automotive achievement, the Veyron owes its existence to Ferdinand Piëch, who bought rights to the fabled Bugatti name in 1998, when he was chairman of Volkswagen, with the goal of building the ultimate supercar.
Bringing it to market required an unwavering commitment by Mr. Piëch, a man with a reputation as a brilliant engineer, though many have questioned his grasp on commercial reality.
With four turbochargers, the Veyron's mighty 8-liter, 16-cylinder power plant produces 1,001 horsepower and enough torque (922 pound-feet) to uproot a redwood. The engine drives all four wheels via a seven-speed automated manual gearbox.
Despite extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum, the Veyron is, at 4,162 pounds, quite heavy. Even so, the car is capable of staggering acceleration: from zero to 125 miles an hour in 7.3 seconds and to 250 in 55.6 seconds, according to Bugatti.
The price, for those indiscreet enough to ask, is $1.2 million in the United States, before taxes.
Theoretically, several of Volkswagen's rivals could create a Veyron alternative; some could even afford to. Mr. Bscher says the project cost no more than some automakers spend each year on Formula One racing - perhaps $400 million. In today's harsh business environment, though, automakers face challenges that make it unlikely they would allocate the technical and financial resources to one-up the Veyron.
Creating cars for plutocrats was a curious strategy for the manufacturer of the People's Car. The results, nevertheless, are now available to the handful of buyers with the necessary wherewithal.
INSIDE TRACK: The sports car NASA would build.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/au...es/25AUTO.html
01-17-2006, 10:57 AM
#204
Senior Moderator
Very nifty video detailing the development and workings of the quad turbo engine and the 7-speed tranny...
http://www.blackbookforum.com/blackb...bugattiw16.swf
http://www.blackbookforum.com/blackb...bugattiw16.swf
05-31-2006, 11:48 PM
#206
Senior Moderator
272mph Veyron coming...
06-01-2006, 12:18 AM
#209
Senior Moderator
Most excellent question and I agree: How're the tires gonna handle this new speed...? 
06-01-2006, 12:46 AM
#210
Senior Moderator
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=Veyron
So does this mean they have given it the go ahead???
So does this mean they have given it the go ahead???
06-01-2006, 05:25 PM
#211
Safety Car
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Yumchah
Most excellent question and I agree: How're the tires gonna handle this new speed...?
06-01-2006, 05:35 PM
#212
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by titan
I think a requirement must be to keep a garage stocked just with tires... If you have a $1million plus car, one must be able to afford a crew to change the tires after every use.
06-01-2006, 06:32 PM
#213
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by Yumchah
Well...Wasn't the reason the original Veyron was topped out 252 due to the fact that no other tires could handle a higher speed?
06-08-2006, 06:25 PM
#215
Three Wheelin'
Originally Posted by treyster
This car is now my all time favorite!! Does it come in white??
Yes, it comes in white
06-28-2006, 09:50 PM
#216
Senior Moderator
Wins 0-100-0mph contest...
It out-hustled the GSX-R1000...?!?
The Bugatti Veyron has wiped the floor with the opposition in Autocar’s annual 0-100-0mph contest, featured in the current issue of the magazine, even managing to beat a Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike!
Featuring 25 of the world’s fastest cars, from the 14th placed £79,995 Aston Martin V8 Vantage to the second-placed £34,995 Ariel Atom, the shoot-out pitches the cars against each other in a straight fight to see which is the fastest to 100mph. There’s more to it than just outright speed though – slowing from 100mph to a dead halt is just as important.
The Veyron, with its 987bhp 16-cylinder engine, wasn’t necessarily the favourite to win. "A low weight tends to be the key to a good 0-100-0mph car," said Autocar’s road test editor Adam Towler. "Cars like the Ariel Atom and Caterham Superlight historically dominate this contest."
But the 1890kg £880,000 Bugatti ripped through the gears to hit 60mph in 2.8sec and 100mph in an astonishing 5.5sec. It then stopped in just 3.4sec, giving a 0-100-0mph time of 9.9sec.
(It's worth pointing out that the overall world record is still held by the Ultima GTR, which can do the same sprint in 9.4 seconds).
Not only is the Bugatti faster than the Suzuki, it creates more g-force at maximum acceleration than you’d experience in an F-16 jet fighter at take off or when skydiving.
But the lightweights still turned in an impressive performance, from the relatively unknown £32k Brooke Double R in fourth place to the £35k Ariel Atom 300 in second.
"Although the Veyron is undoubtedly the quickest road car ever, you can still have nearly as much fun for much less money," said Adam Towler. "It’s good to see British sports cars doing so well against such an impressive machine as the Bugatti."
Autocar also brought along an A1 GP car, driven by Brit Robbie Kerr, to see how a purpose-built race car would compare with road-going machinery. The 550bhp single seater weighs just 695kg, and proved to be the fastest vehicle on the day with a 0-100-0mph time of 8.4sec.
Featuring 25 of the world’s fastest cars, from the 14th placed £79,995 Aston Martin V8 Vantage to the second-placed £34,995 Ariel Atom, the shoot-out pitches the cars against each other in a straight fight to see which is the fastest to 100mph. There’s more to it than just outright speed though – slowing from 100mph to a dead halt is just as important.
The Veyron, with its 987bhp 16-cylinder engine, wasn’t necessarily the favourite to win. "A low weight tends to be the key to a good 0-100-0mph car," said Autocar’s road test editor Adam Towler. "Cars like the Ariel Atom and Caterham Superlight historically dominate this contest."
But the 1890kg £880,000 Bugatti ripped through the gears to hit 60mph in 2.8sec and 100mph in an astonishing 5.5sec. It then stopped in just 3.4sec, giving a 0-100-0mph time of 9.9sec.
(It's worth pointing out that the overall world record is still held by the Ultima GTR, which can do the same sprint in 9.4 seconds).
Not only is the Bugatti faster than the Suzuki, it creates more g-force at maximum acceleration than you’d experience in an F-16 jet fighter at take off or when skydiving.
But the lightweights still turned in an impressive performance, from the relatively unknown £32k Brooke Double R in fourth place to the £35k Ariel Atom 300 in second.
"Although the Veyron is undoubtedly the quickest road car ever, you can still have nearly as much fun for much less money," said Adam Towler. "It’s good to see British sports cars doing so well against such an impressive machine as the Bugatti."
Autocar also brought along an A1 GP car, driven by Brit Robbie Kerr, to see how a purpose-built race car would compare with road-going machinery. The 550bhp single seater weighs just 695kg, and proved to be the fastest vehicle on the day with a 0-100-0mph time of 8.4sec.
@ the article,.........good find Yumchah.
06-29-2006, 10:32 AM
#219
Moderator Alumnus
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Washington DC (NOVA)
Age: 52
Posts: 16,399
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes
on
8 Posts
0-100mph-0 comparison times
Please click to see the video footage of the ULTIMA GTR's run.
Ultima GTR
9.4secs
Ferrari Enzo
10.9secs
McLaren F1 LM
11.5secs
Porsche Carrera GT
11.6secs
Pagani Zonda
11.8secs
Porsche 911 Ruf R Turbo
13.1secs
Ferrari F40
13.8secs
Lamborghini Murcielago
13.9secs
Dodge Viper SRT-10
14.6secs
Aston Martin DB9
14.9secs
Honda NSX Type-R
16.2secs
Source: http://www.ultimasports.co.uk/
9.4secs
Ferrari Enzo
10.9secs
McLaren F1 LM
11.5secs
Porsche Carrera GT
11.6secs
Pagani Zonda
11.8secs
Porsche 911 Ruf R Turbo
13.1secs
Ferrari F40
13.8secs
Lamborghini Murcielago
13.9secs
Dodge Viper SRT-10
14.6secs
Aston Martin DB9
14.9secs
Honda NSX Type-R
16.2secs
Source: http://www.ultimasports.co.uk/
07-23-2006, 06:31 PM
#221
Senior Moderator
Bugatti planning $1.9 million targa Veyron
Bugatti will launch a new $1.9 million version of its Veyron supercar in 2008, according to a published report. The so-called Veyron Targa will receive a glass roof engineered by Webasto — the same German firm responsible for the folding roof on the Volkswagen Eos, according to Edmunds. Unlike the Porsche 911 Targa — which has a glass roof that retracts and is stowed onboard — the Veyron's roof panel will have to be removed by hand and kept in the garage.
The reason for this shortcoming is the Veyron's tightly packed design, which leaves no room to store the panel. To compensate, the car will offer an expandable fabric cover that will slide in place of the glass and shield the interior from the elements.
The report seems to suggests that, unlike the Porsche 911 Targa, the Bugatti will have no structural member connecting the windscreen to the pseudo c-pillar/roll-bar. Consequently, reinforcements will be added to the windscreen to maintain rollover safety, and other changes will be made to the underbody to maintain torsional stiffness.
Bugatti will make up for the added weight by giving the car a carbon hood and doors — bringing the weight back to down to the coupe's level. While acceleration figures should remain unchanged, top speed will be electronically limited to 217 mph for safety reasons. The aerodynamics of the Targa model will not be suitable for the car's regular top speed of 250 mph, the report said.
The reason for this shortcoming is the Veyron's tightly packed design, which leaves no room to store the panel. To compensate, the car will offer an expandable fabric cover that will slide in place of the glass and shield the interior from the elements.
The report seems to suggests that, unlike the Porsche 911 Targa, the Bugatti will have no structural member connecting the windscreen to the pseudo c-pillar/roll-bar. Consequently, reinforcements will be added to the windscreen to maintain rollover safety, and other changes will be made to the underbody to maintain torsional stiffness.
Bugatti will make up for the added weight by giving the car a carbon hood and doors — bringing the weight back to down to the coupe's level. While acceleration figures should remain unchanged, top speed will be electronically limited to 217 mph for safety reasons. The aerodynamics of the Targa model will not be suitable for the car's regular top speed of 250 mph, the report said.
07-23-2006, 06:33 PM
#222
Senior Moderator
Here's the Edmunds.com article...
Ray of Light: Bugatti Planning a Veyron Targa for 2008
Date posted: 07-21-2006
MOLSHEIM, France — Bugatti is planning to launch a targa version of its $1.9 million EB16.4 Veyron in 2008.
The new car will be assembled in limited numbers alongside the existing coupe version of the EB16.4 Veyron at Bugatti's showcase factory here.
The Veyron Targa is expected to receive a glass roof engineered by German specialist Webasto — the same company responsible for the Volkswagen Eos's folding aluminum and glass hardtop. The laminated panel is removable but cannot be stowed on board, according to insiders, because of the EB16.4 Veyron's tight packaging. As a result, Bugatti plans to equip the new car with an expandable piece of fabric that can be clipped into place to keep rain and sunshine at bay.
To help compensate for the added weight brought on by modifications to strengthen the EB16.4 Veyron's windshield and other necessary changes to its underbody structure, the new Targa will receive carbon-fiber doors and hood. Other modifications include a slightly restyled grille and headlamps incorporating an adaptive function that sees them swivel in tandem with the front wheels. The same changes will be brought over to the coupe, say Inside Line sources.
As a result of its altered aerodynamic properties, Bugatti plans to limit the EB16.4 Veyron's top speed to 350 kph (217 mph), some 35 mph shy of the coupe's 407-kph (253 mph) maximum. But even at that speed, it will be able to claim the title of world's fastest open-top car.
What this means to you: Predictions of an early demise for the breathtakingly expensive Bugatti EB16.4 Veyron have proven wrong. Sales remain strong, and with a Targa version on the horizon, the company's target of 350 sales over six years looks to be well on track.
Date posted: 07-21-2006
MOLSHEIM, France — Bugatti is planning to launch a targa version of its $1.9 million EB16.4 Veyron in 2008.
The new car will be assembled in limited numbers alongside the existing coupe version of the EB16.4 Veyron at Bugatti's showcase factory here.
The Veyron Targa is expected to receive a glass roof engineered by German specialist Webasto — the same company responsible for the Volkswagen Eos's folding aluminum and glass hardtop. The laminated panel is removable but cannot be stowed on board, according to insiders, because of the EB16.4 Veyron's tight packaging. As a result, Bugatti plans to equip the new car with an expandable piece of fabric that can be clipped into place to keep rain and sunshine at bay.
To help compensate for the added weight brought on by modifications to strengthen the EB16.4 Veyron's windshield and other necessary changes to its underbody structure, the new Targa will receive carbon-fiber doors and hood. Other modifications include a slightly restyled grille and headlamps incorporating an adaptive function that sees them swivel in tandem with the front wheels. The same changes will be brought over to the coupe, say Inside Line sources.
As a result of its altered aerodynamic properties, Bugatti plans to limit the EB16.4 Veyron's top speed to 350 kph (217 mph), some 35 mph shy of the coupe's 407-kph (253 mph) maximum. But even at that speed, it will be able to claim the title of world's fastest open-top car.
What this means to you: Predictions of an early demise for the breathtakingly expensive Bugatti EB16.4 Veyron have proven wrong. Sales remain strong, and with a Targa version on the horizon, the company's target of 350 sales over six years looks to be well on track.
08-03-2006, 06:02 PM
#225
Senior Moderator
08-03-2006, 11:18 PM
#228
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by West6MT
Ya, didnt someone put a link to the news they are planning on making a convertible veyron?
10-27-2006, 10:47 AM
#229
Senior Moderator
Hennessey developing custom exhaust for Bugatti Veyron
From Autoblog.com...
Enormous sums of money went into the development of the epically fast and extraordinarily powerful Bugatti Veyron. The engineers managed to squeeze out a thousand horses from eight liters, sixteen cylinders, sixty-four valves and four turbochargers. But someone out there thinks there's still more power to be tapped, and that someone is Hennessey.
Hennessey Performance is the monster tuning house that specializes in giving more venom to the Dodge Viper, a car with an engine displacement slightly larger than the Bugatti's, but in stock form, only manages to produce half as much power. So while the Viper is a monstrously fast car, there was plenty more power to be massaged out of its enormous V10, and Hennessey has managed to crank it up past 900 horsepower. But the Bugatti's powerplant is a different story entirely, already the most powerful engine in production.
The company's head honcho, John Hennessey, in correspondence with Autoblog, tells us an American client approached him with the daunting task of improving on his Veyron with a custom exhaust system "to improve the power and sound along with possibly saving some weight". That's a pretty tall order, but Hennessey reckons they're up for the task.
The customer's Bugatti is scheduled to arrive in the workshop this winter, with the new exhaust completed by the spring. At that point Hennessey says they'll have all the numbers along with some multimedia clips for our enjoyment. And we can hardly wait.
Hennessey Performance is the monster tuning house that specializes in giving more venom to the Dodge Viper, a car with an engine displacement slightly larger than the Bugatti's, but in stock form, only manages to produce half as much power. So while the Viper is a monstrously fast car, there was plenty more power to be massaged out of its enormous V10, and Hennessey has managed to crank it up past 900 horsepower. But the Bugatti's powerplant is a different story entirely, already the most powerful engine in production.
The company's head honcho, John Hennessey, in correspondence with Autoblog, tells us an American client approached him with the daunting task of improving on his Veyron with a custom exhaust system "to improve the power and sound along with possibly saving some weight". That's a pretty tall order, but Hennessey reckons they're up for the task.
The customer's Bugatti is scheduled to arrive in the workshop this winter, with the new exhaust completed by the spring. At that point Hennessey says they'll have all the numbers along with some multimedia clips for our enjoyment. And we can hardly wait.
10-27-2006, 12:17 PM
#231
Three Wheelin'
because the veyron of all cars just doesn't have enough power. 
This thing is mostly traction limited right? Better tires if they exist in that size would be the better solution no?
Come to think of it though, weight savings would be welcome.
This thing is mostly traction limited right? Better tires if they exist in that size would be the better solution no?
Come to think of it though, weight savings would be welcome.
10-27-2006, 05:48 PM
#235
styling on you
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, California
Age: 34
Posts: 5,274
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
Hennessy is a dumb ass. Read some of his posts on forums he frequents and you'll know exactly why. Also wasn't he the one that scammed a lot of Viper owners out of their money?
11-16-2006, 10:28 PM
#236
Senior Moderator
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/16/s...mage-surfaces/
Veyron Roadster image surfaces
Posted Nov 16th 2006 11:36AM by Frank Filipponio
Just a photoshop, we think, but this image from WorldCarFans gives us a peek at what the 2008 Veyron Roadster might look like. As we reported in July, Bugatti has moved forward with plans for a targa version of its luxury supercar. Rather than a true drop-top, a laminated glass roof panel has been developed by the same people who brought us the folding hardtop with sunroof on the Volkswagen Eos. With no room to store that panel onboard, speculation is that a temporary fabric panel is being engineered to cover the interior in an emergency situation.
As you might imagine for a car capable of 400 km/h, the Veyron Targa will need some beefing up when it loses its roof. Windshield pillars, as well as the chassis will need some additional strengthening. To compensate for that extra weight, Bugatti will most likely use carbon fiber to build the doors and hood. A freshening of the grille and the headlights is also expected. Those lights, btw, will now be doing a Lexus, and turning with the front wheels. The other major change is that the Veyron Targa's top speed will be reduced to a mere 217 mph.
Posted Nov 16th 2006 11:36AM by Frank Filipponio
Just a photoshop, we think, but this image from WorldCarFans gives us a peek at what the 2008 Veyron Roadster might look like. As we reported in July, Bugatti has moved forward with plans for a targa version of its luxury supercar. Rather than a true drop-top, a laminated glass roof panel has been developed by the same people who brought us the folding hardtop with sunroof on the Volkswagen Eos. With no room to store that panel onboard, speculation is that a temporary fabric panel is being engineered to cover the interior in an emergency situation.
As you might imagine for a car capable of 400 km/h, the Veyron Targa will need some beefing up when it loses its roof. Windshield pillars, as well as the chassis will need some additional strengthening. To compensate for that extra weight, Bugatti will most likely use carbon fiber to build the doors and hood. A freshening of the grille and the headlights is also expected. Those lights, btw, will now be doing a Lexus, and turning with the front wheels. The other major change is that the Veyron Targa's top speed will be reduced to a mere 217 mph.
11-16-2006, 11:17 PM
#237
Senior Moderator
Not bad. But, why is it a car that's made in Britain for about $900K less purdier to me...? Am I tasteless...?
