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