Bugatti Veyron16.4 Grand Sport : Unique charisma
With this limited production of 150 sporty roadsters, Bugatti is setting its sights on esthetes as well as collectors of original cars. Esthetes and collectors with bulging wallets...
The challenge set by Bugatti was to create the fastest convertible in the world. The response to that challenge goes by the name of Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, a car that observes every single principle of technology and esthetics advocated by Ettore Bugatti in the late 1920’s. A roadster thus true to tradition. In terms of external design, the removable polycarbonate roof is one of its major attributes. When closed, it lets light filter through : its inner edges are upholstered with the same leather as the rest of the interior. Easily removed, it can be stored on a wall mount built for this purpose. An exclusive patented design, the Soft-Top has everything offered by a screen : it nestles comfortably in the boot if you want to keep it handy, and thanks to its lightness and easy handling, can be quickly and effortlessly set in place. A real discovery, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport allows its passengers to drive with their hair blowing in the wind up to a recommended top speed of 360 km/hr. The windshield provides optimum visibility, as does the rear window with its impeccable aerodynamics. Once seated at the wheel, the driver has a choice of three driving modes. If he opts for "Standard" mode, the car can attain up to 220 km/hr. Beyond that, it switches to “Handling” mode, which lowers the carriage and slants the rear wing to 15° (an automatic adjustment which compensates at 20° if the roof is off). “Topspeed” mode is unlocked by using a special key before starting the engine. The rear wing is then lowered to 2°, clearance is minimized and this beautiful sports car is ready to reach its top speed of 407 km/hr. Very logically, the car’s safety allows for no compromise, during acceleration or when driving at high speed. Bugatti has imagined (and obtained) a perfect aerodynamic balance between acceleration and deceleration. The suspension and steering, of absolute precision, ensure excellent stability under all circumstances : the ESP (electronic stabilization programme) acts separately on each wheel and intelligently controls the engine functions. The body, made of carbon fiber, has high rigidity ; a lightweight material and very stable, it strengthens the doors and makes it possible to achieve a high level of flexibility for a cabriolet. Finally, the roll bar, certainly useful, but often unsightly, is judiciously integrated inside the air vents. Effective and invisible.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport in figures :
Horsepower : 1001 hp
Top speed : 360 km/hr roof open, 407 km/hr roof closed
0 to 100 km/hr : 2.5 secs
Price : 1.400.000 €
By Cécile Olivero.
