Bugatti Veyron

Performance

The W16 produces 1001 metric horsepower, equivalent to 987 SAE net horsepower or 736 kW. This would easily make it the most powerful production road-car engine in history, were it to reach production. Torque is 1250 N·m (922 ft·lbf). According to Volkswagen, the final production Veyron engine produces between 1020 and 1040 metric horsepower (1006 to 1026 SAE net hp), so the car will be advertised as producing "1001 horsepower" in both the US and European markets.

Top speed was initially promised to be 252 mph (406 km/h), but test versions were unstable at that speed, forcing a redesign of the aerodynamics. In May, 2005, a prototype Veyron tested at a Volkswagen track near Wolfsburg, Germany, and recorded a top speed of 248.5 mph (400 km/h). The production model has now been tested and reached a top speed of 407 km/h.

The Veyron is the fastest production car to reach 100 km/h with a time of 2.5 seconds. It also reaches 200 and 300 km/h in 7.3 and 16.7 seconds respectively. This makes the Veyron the quickest-accelerating production vehicle in history. It is not the most efficient vechicle in history however, using 40.4 l/100 km in city driving and 24.1 l/100 km in combined cycle.

Specifications

The Veyron features a W16 engine—16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders, or two W8 engines mated together in line. Each cylinder has 4 valves, for a total of 64, but the narrow W8 configuration allows two camshafts to drive two banks of cylinders so only 4 camshafts are needed. The engine is fed by four turbochargers, and it displaces 8.0 L (7,993 cm³/488 in³) with a square 86 by 86 mm bore and stroke.

Putting this power to the ground is a dual-clutch DSG computer-controlled manual transmission with 7 gear ratios. The Veyron also features full-time all wheel drive, necessary given the output of the engine. Special Michelin PAX System run-flat tires, capable of running at 250 mph (402.3 km/h), are fitted.

The car's wheelbase is 2700 mm (106.3 in). Overall length is 4466 mm (175.8 in). It measures 1998 mm (78.7 in) wide and 1206 mm (47.5 in) tall.