| Technology : | | | | road will experience the power of the fastest |
| With its 16-cylinder four-wheel drive, the Bugatti Veyron | | | | production vehicle of all times. |
| 16.4 may well be the most sophisticated production | | | | Driving: |
| vehicle of all times. | | | | Bugatti’s Veyron 16.4 is the first super sports car |
| Most of the components tucked beneath its hood are | | | | with guaranteed ESP functionality at all speeds |
| ingenious innovations that were formerly only deemed | | | | including top velocity, tested and approved by |
| possible by visionaries like Ferdinand Piech. | | | | exceptional racecar drivers. |
| Boasting a maximum speed of more than 400 km per | | | | The first ESP tests at velocities beyond 300 km/h |
| hour, the Veyron is unmatched in the super sports | | | | were performed on the dried salt lakes in the |
| category. It offers a total of 1,001 HP, and its ample | | | | American Southwest. The low-friction ground surface |
| power reserves even at high speeds are the fabric of | | | | is ideal for taking a car’s road grip to the limit. |
| dreams for luxury-class limousines: for a constant | | | | Featuring intelligent four-wheel drive and four electronic |
| speed of 250 km/h, the Veyron only needs 270-280 | | | | controls, the sports car is as safe as it is fast. Two |
| HP. This means that the seven-gear clutch | | | | steerage systems, a Haldex clutch, and the rear axle |
| transmission works with a torque of up to 1,250 | | | | locking diff provide the necessary dynamics, while the |
| Newton meters. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) | | | | brake pressure regulation and active torque control |
| ensures the necessary flexibility and maneuverability at | | | | ensure controllability. |
| any speed. The Veyron reaches velocities that would | | | | In addition to the ingenious electronic controls, the |
| literally lift the car off the ground – if it were not for | | | | Veyron 16.4 features high-precision engineering and a |
| its ingenious aerodynamics, which keeps it firmly on the | | | | perfect underbody based on state-of-the-art racing |
| road even at full speed. Adjusting the back spoiler, | | | | technology. Double traverse control arms in the front |
| reducing ground clearance, opening and closing the lids | | | | and rear guarantee precise wheel control. All elements |
| – it all adds to the perfect balance between | | | | work smoothly together with minimal friction and a |
| propulsion and down force. Such a super sports car | | | | maximum of stability. Suspension, cushioning, and |
| may not seem to be brought to a halt easily, but the | | | | stabilizers react directly and immediately. The steering |
| Veyron’s ceramic brakes slow it down faster than | | | | system is equally well balanced: the high connection |
| it can accelerate. While it takes this exceptional car | | | | stiffness of all elements ensures direct reactivity. The |
| only 2.5 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h, it needs | | | | car follows each and every move of the driver, at any |
| even less time – a mere 2.3 seconds – to come | | | | speed and with exactly the right dose of servo |
| to a standstill from 100 (reference point). To reduce the | | | | support. The latter is gradually decreased towards top |
| risk of injuries in accidents, Bugatti had a Formula 1 | | | | velocity, making for easy maneuverability in city traffic, |
| safety concept adapted for the Veyron. All these | | | | smooth directional stability at high speeds, and precise, |
| technical details combine to make the Veyron a truly | | | | flawless corner turns on country roads. |
| exceptional super sports car. | | | | The tyres are the last, but certainly not the least factor |
| Speed: | | | | determining driving dynamics and security. The Veyron |
| The Veyron 16.4 is the fastest production vehicle of all | | | | 16.4 tires feature a specially developed rubber |
| times. | | | | compound, customized tire tread, and an elaborate tire |
| The car documents state a maximum velocity of 407 | | | | pressure control system. |
| km/h, but that is an understatement. For years, the | | | | Structure: |
| Bugatti engineers had worked thoroughly in order to | | | | A super sports car like the Veyron 16.4 needs to be |
| push the 400 km/h boundary. No wind tunnel can | | | | light in order to reach top speeds. |
| simulate this velocity, which is why after each of a long | | | | From the initial concept to the design and the selection |
| series of improvements, the different ground clearance | | | | of materials, the Bugatti engineers tapped the full |
| levels and the modifications of the rear fenders, spoiler | | | | potential of their considerable expertise to ensure that |
| and underbody were tested separately on high-speed | | | | this car is, indeed, a lightweight. Titanium, Carbon, |
| test ranges. This ambition and diligence paid off, as the | | | | Magnesium, and Aluminum – each part of the |
| official speed measurement proves. | | | | Veyron 16.4 is made of the material with the lowest |
| The Veyron’s high velocity is due to the perfect | | | | weight and the highest level of functionality. The |
| combination of engine technology, consistent lightweight | | | | titanium piston rods save approx. 4 kg of weight, the |
| construction, specially developed tyres, and the | | | | titanium screws 3.5 kg, and the magnesium valve caps |
| complex balance of propulsion and down force. For | | | | another 2 kg. By reducing the wheelbase, the original |
| not only the aerodynamic drag is a crucial factor at | | | | weight was reduced by about a third, and the titanium |
| very high speeds, but also the precise adjustment of | | | | exhaust system – another Veyron 16.4 first – |
| the down force that holds the car to the road surface. | | | | with its wafer-thin layer of titanium aluminite saves yet |
| And in addition to all this, the Veyron production vehicle | | | | another 17 kg. These combined efforts capped the |
| meets the highest safety, reliability and maneuverability | | | | Veyron 16.4’s weight at a compact 1,888 kg. Add |
| standards of even the most discerning drivers. | | | | the car’s high-powered performance and |
| To create the optimum aerodynamics, the Bugatti | | | | unmatched speed, and you have a uniquely fast and |
| engineers developed three configuration modes. In | | | | nimble super sports car. |
| standard mode, used for speeds up to 220 km/h, the | | | | Optimum protection is guaranteed by the car’s |
| rear spoiler system is completely retracted. In handling | | | | carbon monocoque construction: weighing only 110 kg, |
| mode, used at higher velocities, the vehicles nose is | | | | the survival cell withstands enormous crash impact |
| pulled down and the monumental rear spoiler deployed. | | | | forces. This principle is comparable to that used in the |
| This produces an additional 350 kg of down force | | | | Formula 1 world, where drivers usually emerge |
| without compromising the Veyron’s exceptional | | | | uninjured from their cars even after severe accidents. |
| turn dynamics. And then there is the top speed mode | | | | The maximum impact force reduction is mainly due to |
| for velocities beyond 375 km/h, which is activated | | | | the frames integrated in the carbon monocoque. The |
| before the engine is started. At top speed mode the | | | | front part of the monocoque is made of aluminum; the |
| front diffuser flaps are shut to make the underbody | | | | rear consists of a combination of Carbon, Stainless |
| absolutely level, and the spoiler is completely aligned | | | | Steel, and Aluminum. The car’s safety concept, |
| with the chassis, forming a tearing edge – thus, the | | | | which includes two frontal airbags for the front-seat |
| Veyron is perfectly adapted for top velocities. The | | | | occupants, is so sophisticated that additional airbags |
| down force is reduced to minimize the strain on the | | | | would be redundant. Crash tests have shown the |
| tyres, which is already considerable. The car is held | | | | Veyron 16.4 to conform to all international safety |
| down on the road by its own weight and the down | | | | standards – and to exceed them. As painful as it |
| force. The Veyron starts immediately at top speed | | | | was for the engineers to watch their valuable |
| mode, allowing only for a limited turn of the steering | | | | prototypes hit the test wall, they were always glad to |
| wheel. As soon as the driver brakes, the Veyron | | | | see that the Veyron survived these maneuvers |
| automatically switches to handling mode. But those | | | | almost unharmed. |
| who dare to accelerate consistently on a long, straight | | | | |