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