Bugatti Veyron 16.4: Behind the wheel of the fastest and most powerful production car in the world.

RoadandTrack.com ^ | December 30,2006 | By Patrick Hong

[sully777]

CASTELBUONO, SICILY — Warning! Do not read on if: 1) Your right foot is heavier than your left foot, and 2) Your driver's license is one ticket away from being revoked.

Okay, you made it this far, which means you are probably at least sane enough to consider the following:

Forget the 660-bhp Ferrari Enzo, the 605-bhp Porsche Carrera GT, the 617-bhp Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, or even the mighty 627-bhp McLaren F1. These supercars are simply slugs compared with the new 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 (16.4 for 16 cylinders, 4 turbochargers). This $1.2 million "hyper-exotic" boasts 987 bhp (1001 metric horsepower) and 922 lb.-ft. of torque, enough to propel the 4160-lb. beast to a top speed of over 250 mph. And according to the factory, a 0-62-mph acceleration run (0-100 km/h) can be done in 2.5 seconds, 0-124 mph can be reached in 7.3 sec., and 0-186 mph in 16.7 sec., faster than you can re-read and comprehend the astonishing stats.

It is not possible to talk about the Bugatti Veyron's high-speed and massive power capabilities without first discussing the technology behind it. However, we'll let renowned McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray share his expert opinion on engineering and styling of the Veyron in the following pages. I'll focus on what it is like to drive this amazing exotic during the car's introduction in Sicily. In three words:

Amazing!

Thrilling!

Un-be-liev-able!

Climbing aboard the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, you are intimidated initially by the car's impressive specs. In the instrument cluster — beyond the usual tachometer, fuel level and coolant temperature gauges — sits a special dial on the lower left that shows how much horsepower is being used at any moment, up to 1001 metric horsepower. And on the lower right is the speedometer that has 280 mph as the last marker.

Twist the key and turn on the ignition. All you can hear is a quiet murmur, giving no hint of the engine's enormous potential. The interior is furnished in premium leather accentuated by aluminum. The seats are supportive, though the driving position is low and slightly canted toward the center due to the intruding left front wheel well. This also doesn't help the vision forward, which is partially blocked by thick A-pillars. Tap the 7-speed direct-shift transmission (DSG) gearshift lever to the right once and you are in 1st gear. Slowly feed in more throttle and the Veyron responds with a slow crawl.

Unlike other high-horsepower supercars where there's a risk of stalling the car because of high horsepower and a hard-to-use clutch, or the gut-wrenching sound and feel of a hydraulic-actuated clutch slipping, the Bugatti scoots away with minimal fuss. In the first 100 ft., you can already tell the Veyron is very civilized. Loaded with the luxurious amenities such as a stereo with CD player, navigation system, air conditioning, etc., combined with a docile low-speed driving character, the Bugatti could be used to drive to the store or undefined.

But what fun is that, driving a hyper-exotic around town?

Find an open road. Romp on the throttle. Unleash the Veyron's 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged 987-bhp W-16 engine. This 2-ton ferocious beast catapults forward and accelerates at more than 1.1g, albeit with just a slight pause before the power really kicks in. Once on its way, the rocketship ride is smooth but forceful, thanks to its seamless direct-shift transmission, which delivers this enormous power appropriately to all four wheels.

On long stretches of a Sicilian highway, the Veyron can get up to speed so fast that the speed dial goes up just as quickly as the rpm dial. Cruising at 140 mph is effortless. Pedal to the metal and the Bugatti charges up to 170 mph in an instant, just as effortlessly. Unfortunately, the continual stream of local Sicilian traffic never allowed for any faster speed runs, as the Veyron's triple-digit closing speeds make even light traffic seem heavy. Also, its shock tuning is fixed with no adjustment for sport or comfort, so the gaps on Sicilian highways and bridges pound the double-wishbone suspension relentlessly, preventing you from forcing the Bugatti into achieving higher speeds.

There are three basic speed settings on the Veyron: Standard, Handling and Top Speed. In Standard mode for speeds up to 137 mph, the car's ride height is set to 4.9 in. Diffuser flaps are open up front, and the rear spoiler remains retracted. For speeds above 137 mph and up to 233 mph in the Handling mode, the ride height is changed to 3.1 in. in the front and 3.6 in. at the rear. When the front diffuser flaps remain open and the rear spoiler is extended fully, the Veyron is designed to maintain a 45/55 front/rear weight distribution even at high speeds. In fact, in Handling setting, the car experiences 772 lb. of downforce, thanks to aerodynamics.

Finally, to reach speeds beyond 233 mph, the car must come to a complete stop and a second key must be inserted to the left of the driver's seat to engage the Top Speed mode. This is to ensure the driver goes through a checklist, including checking tire pressures, before the car is allowed to run without a speed governor. The Top Speed setting puts the Bugatti ride height at 2.6 in. up front and 2.8 in. at the rear. The front diffusers close and the angle of the rear spoiler is decreased to reduce drag. Of note, if you are driving in the Top Speed mode and apply the brakes beyond a predetermined threshold pressure, the car automatically reverts to Handling mode. In addition, the Handling setting can also be activated below 137 mph via a button on the center console.

At slower speeds, the Bugatti Veyron's Michelin PAX run-flat tires generate noticeable tire noise. The ride is firm, and can be surprisingly harsh on roads that are not well maintained. On Sicily's twisty mountain roads, the Veyron's 4160-lb. curb weight never over-ran the car's ability to carve a corner. The steering is extremely responsive and gives good feedback from the front tires. The weighting is a bit lighter than preferred, though there is still a positive and confident on-center feel. Shifting is a breeze, thanks to the steering-wheel-mounted paddles. But with the engine's enormous power and flexibility, no matter what gear you are in, just romp on the throttle on corner exit, point the car straight ahead and let the W-16 take you on a thrilling ride like no other in the world.

After only a brief drive in the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, you can't help yearning for more. It's hard not to be addicted to the tremendous horsepower and torque. With the production capped at 300 units, about 50 per year over the next six years, I'd better find a way to persuade Bugatti that I need another turn in the Veyron for a more "in-depth" assessment. Or I'll have to start saving for the $1.2 million price tag it commands.

[sully777]

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Bugatti Veyron 16.4

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Specifications

Price: est $1,200,000 (US)
Curb weight: Est 4160 lb
Wheelbase: 106.7 in.
Track, f/r: 68.5 in./64.6 in.
Length: 175.7 in.
Width: 78.7 in.
Height: 47.4 in.
Fuel capacity: 26.4 gal.

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Engine & Drivetrain

Engine type: Quad-turbo dohc 64V W-16
Displacement: 7993 cc
Bore x stroke: 86.0 mm x 86.0 mm
Compression ratio: 9.0:1
Horsepower (SAE): 987 bhp @ 6000 rpm [Unofficial: 1,100 bhp]
Torque: 922 lb-ft @ 2250 rpm
Fuel delivery: Electronic sequential port fuel injection Transmission: 7-speed paddle-shift manual

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Chassis & Body

Layout: Mid engine/all-wheel drive
Brake system: Carbon fiber
Frame: Carbon/Nomex honeycomb
Brakes, f/r: 15.7-in. drilled & vented discs/ 15.0-in. drilled & vented discs, ABS
Steering: Rack & pinion, variable power assist
Suspension, f/r: Upper & lower A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar/upper & lower A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar
Wheels: 20 x 10 f, 21 x 14 r
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 PAX; 265/680ZR 500A f, 365/710ZR 540A r

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Performance Claims

0–100 km/h (0–62 mph): 2.5 sec/100 km/h–0
(62–0 mph) braking: 103 ft
Top speed: 253 mph

[aft_lizard]

Not the best looking car IMO

[sully777]

Car Porn

[sully777]

According to all the information I've read, the car was designed for speed...so form follows function.

Bugatti was never the best looking car, just the best car.

[LibKill]

Hot-hot-hot-hot!

From the pic you posted the engine takes up more room than the driver and passenger(s) combined.

[sully777]

Another Bugatti that sought the Form Follows Function road...57C Atlantique

[Billthedrill]

No cup-holders. That means I gotta keep my beer between my thighs. Don't these guys know anything about creature comforts?

And another thing - the speedo dialed up to 280 is purely for show. I bet the thing won't do any better than 275...

I need one.

[OCCASparky]

To go over 230 you need a checklist? Wimps. Hell, the only difference between a wreck at 230 and 270 is the length of the grease spot you leave on the highway.

[SoldierDad]

God, why? Forgive them, they know not what they do.

[Billthedrill]

If I read the article correctly they were "testing" it at 170 mph on a public road. Lord have mercy...

[OCCASparky]

If I read the article correctly they were "testing" it at 170 mph on a public road. Lord have mercy...

Sounds like some of the idiots I used to see driving out to Vegas on I-15 Friday afternoon...

[editor-surveyor]

"Not the best looking car IMO"

Yes, a bit gauche, but those that spend more than a million for a set of wheels probably enjoy the clear identity. Kind of like the Countache.

[sully777]

[editor-surveyor]

Now that is a beautiful thing!

[sully777]

Automotive Ping List

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· Automotive Ping List · join list & same if you want off

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!!!Ping!!!

[editor-surveyor]

Is that OHV or OHC?

[Billthedrill]

Hmm...I'm guessing from that engine pic that they're not planning a hybrid model anytime soon.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Who resurrected the Bugatti name?

Or have they just been producing garbage for 60+ years?

[sully777]

[irishtenor]

But, what about milage? Does it have a babyseat? CD player?