| Is this crazy? Or does it make sense? | | | | Ricardo, a powertrain specialist in the UK. |
| Bugatti, a small car company bankrolled by | | | | |
| Volkswagen (VW), has brought out the Veyron | | | | The Bugatti has a carbon fiber structure, |
| 16.4 with a top speed of 248 mph - and the | | | | suspension like a racing car, and two large |
| car was tested at the speed on the fastest | | | | air intakes in the roof to keep that huge |
| track Volkswagen could find in Europe! | | | | engine cool. Of course, the engine is mounted |
| | | | behind the driver and passenger but forward |
| Nowhere else would allow the car to get to | | | | of the rear wheels. |
| that speed and be timed for long enough to | | | | |
| say it actually could do this. The previous | | | | Most exotic cars have rear-wheel drive, but |
| record for a production car was 242 mph round | | | | the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 has so much power |
| the Nardo track in Italy - and that required | | | | that it has four-wheel drive. Actually, some |
| a great deal of skill by the driver to keep | | | | Audis, including the 450 bhp RS4, and all |
| the car on the banked track! | | | | Lamborghinis - also in the VW Group - now |
| | | | have four-wheel drive. Again, the Bugatti is |
| This sort of speed - and the power to get | | | | showcasing group technology |
| there - are pretty much off the planet, but | | | | |
| since then, other companies - with a fraction | | | | If you are wondering why four-wheel drive is |
| of the resources of Bugatti - have decided | | | | needed, just think about it. With two-wheel |
| they should aim for 250 mph. 'What for?', you | | | | drive there would be 500 bhp going through |
| might ask. I guess it is a bit like saying | | | | each tire! Most makers of supercars and |
| the moon is there so let's go there. | | | | exotic cars think that 300 bhp per tire is |
| | | | plenty. |
| W-16, 1,001 bhp engine | | | | |
| | | | Ok, so the Bugatti was timed at 248 mph, and |
| The Bugatti Veyron is a very impressive car, | | | | reaches 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Did |
| powered by a W-16-cylinder 8.0 liter engine | | | | the other makers of exotic cars give up, and |
| developing 1,001 bhp. The '4' stands for the | | | | say: 'Well, we can't match that'? |
| four turbochargers needed to boost the engine | | | | |
| to that amount of power. The whole Bugatti | | | | No, Pagani, produced the 650 bhp Zonda F with |
| project was the idea of Dr Ferdinand Piech, | | | | an option of 700 bhp. Saleen upped the power |
| then chairman of the VW Group. He wanted VW | | | | output of its S7 to 750 bhp, while Ferrari |
| to build a car to showcase technology and to | | | | produced a few FXXs with 850 bhp, and |
| move the goal posts so no one could get | | | | Maserati also has a version of the MC-12 |
| close. Evidently, during testing this engine | | | | developing 750 bhp or so. |
| was proved to be reliable when producing | | | | |
| 1,200 bhp. | | | | On the other hand Koenigsegg decided not to |
| | | | pursue the power race for the time being at |
| The car does showcase technology. The engine | | | | least. After all its CCR has a 806 bhp |
| is similar to the W-12 installed in the Audi | | | | engine, and was timed at 242 mph. Instead, |
| A8 and S8, and in turbocharged form in the | | | | Koenigsegg has introduced the CCX which is |
| Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur. | | | | designed to meet US regulations and is a more |
| | | | practical street machine. |
| The gearbox is also based on VW Group | | | | |
| technology. It is a seven-speed sequential | | | | Others have decided to go for maximum power |
| box with automatic or manual shifting. It has | | | | including one of the tuners of Porsche 911s. |
| a dual clutch arrangement so that when you | | | | Then, a small British company is introducing |
| change gear the power continues to be | | | | a car with a turbocharged 7.0 liter V-8 with |
| transmitted all the time, one clutch | | | | a power output of 1,000 bhp. They say that |
| disengaging exactly at the moment the other | | | | the engine could be tuned to 1,200 bhp. |
| engages. Stunning technology that really | | | | |
| delivers benefits. | | | | More will follow down this route to madness. |
| | | | Me? I'd go for the 500 -600 bhp myself in a |
| The same concept is available in six-speed | | | | car that really handles and is very, very |
| form in the VW Golf, Audi A3 and S3. It is | | | | responsive. Like a Pagani Zonda or an Ascari |
| called DSG. Of course, the Bugatti has a | | | | KZ1. |
| special version of this concept, made by | | | | |