Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Debuts


Story Filed: 8/17/2008 6:42:35 PM EST
By Perry Stern

On the night before the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Bugatti took over the awards ramp to show its latest creation. Given that dozens of vintage Bugattis have traveled across that ramp over the past 50 years, it seemed quite an appropriate location for the debut of the latest model from the French automaker, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport.



The new Grand Sport is distinct in many ways, but the most noticeable addition -- or perhaps subtraction -- is the removable roof. The roof is made of a transparent polycarbonate and requires two people to remove. Once removed, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport becomes what Bugatti calls the fastest roadster in the world, with a top speed of around 225 mph. Put the top back and the Grand Sport will reach just over 250 mph.



These incredible stats are made possible by the Veyron’s 8-liter W16 engine, equipped with four turbo chargers that send 1,001 horsepower to all four wheels. With enormous amounts of torque, the Veyron Grand Sport can reach 62 mph (100 kph) in just 2.5 seconds.



One of the challenges the Bugatti engineers faced was keeping the Veyron rigid and lightweight with the removal of the roof. The monocoque structure has been reinforced around the side skirts and the transmission tunnel, with additional carbon fiber support for the B-pillars. The doors of the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport are made of carbon fiber as well and feature an integrated longitudinal beam. The two air intakes for the 16-cylinder engine feature wider carbon fiber elements to offer protection should the car roll.



Also unique to the Grand Sport is a rather special umbrella design for use if the driver is caught by unexpected rain. Inspired by a photo of an older Bugatti driving in the rain with the passenger holding a large umbrella, the Grand Sport comes with an umbrella that unfolds to fit the exact shape of the hard top. Even with the umbrella latched in place, the Grand Sport can still move at 85 mph.



All that performance and exclusivity comes at a high price. The Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport will be priced at 1.4 million euros (just over $2 million) when it becomes available next March. For that one buyer who needed to be first on the list, the right to the first Veyron Grand Sport was auctioned at the Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company. With the amount over the asking price going to charity, the winning bid for the new Grand Sport was $3.19 million.
[Edited 8/19/08 6:26am]

Thanks but no thanks. I can buy a jet for that much money.

there is not one thing cool about this thread.


you have no appreciation for cars and therefore shouldnt be posting about them if you cannot post a frigging picture along with the article.

wtf. we dont want to just read, we want to see behold the mf machinery!


DONT NOT DO IT AGAIN! GEESH!

horatio said:

Oh my.....
http://autoshow.autos.msn...>1=22017
[Edited 8/19/08 7:14am]

If I had a $100 million chillin' in the bank, I'd already own a jet or two, so hell yeah, I'd do this, without hesitation.

Bleah!

Gimme a Audi R8 any day...

RenHoek said:

Does that have 1,001 HP?

Graycap23 said:

Do I honestly NEED 1001 HP???

Veyron is too flash, way too expensive and just poseur if you ask me...

R8 is accessible, stylish and rare but not outlandish...

plus if someone hits me in the parking lot or I run it into the wall I wouldn't have to slit my wrists...

RenHoek said:

I see your point. I only know one person who owns one.

Graycap23 said:

I did however really appreciate that the first one was auctioned off and the over amount went to charity... That was really cool... Oh to be the idle rich...

Back in the day Audis had engine problems.....is that still true?
[Edited 8/19/08 9:53am]

Graycap23 said:

Dunno, I'm a gearhead and all but I don't run enough cars to know better. It's just me and my Volvo V70 right now. But I do know what I like so...

Graycap23 said:

HELL to the YES! my 2002 A4 bi-turbo gave me nothing but headaces!! but it was fast AND i would buy another one in a heartbeat..if funds allowed

RenHoek said:

meee too

You can buy it for only $1 million on Facebook's Be a Tycoon application

If I had 2 million to blow it sure as hell wouldn't be on a car.

RenHoek said:

besides its all the same company

Stymie said:

If I had 2 million blows I'd be a happy man.

I don't know, sitting in traffic is sitting in traffic

NDRU said:

True but a car like that is NOT about sitting.

Graycap23 said:

and when you're sittin' at least you look like your doin' a buck fitty!

RenHoek said:

lol.....the stretch from San Diego 2 Vegas on I-15, that's where u need this machine or the Autobahn in Germany.

RenHoek said:

that sint even an r8 is it? its the next in line above an r8, right?

horatio said:

Well for pic accuracy it is a pic of the R8 V12 TDI concept but aside from the machine inside the body is pretty much the same...

the specs for the TDI are amessing tho'

It features the same 6.0L V12 pumping out 500 horsepower and prodigious torque, enough in fact (737 lb-ft) to be among the torquiest cars extent. 0-62 doesn't drop much at 4.2 seconds, and the 186 mph top end isn't too far off the V8 version's, but remember, this baby is Euro 6-compliant, making it mean and green.

RenHoek said:

Just curious.....I'm on the verge of buying a V-12 but it seems like they DRINK gas. Any comments?

Graycap23 said:

Do you NEED 12 cylinders...?

Not too many cars out there with 12 cans and good fuel economy, doesn't really work that way...

RenHoek said:

I don't know that is one reason why I have NOT pulled the trigger.

Graycap23 said:

the answer is no

horatio said:

I already under that they don't get good economy. I guess my question is, is there a significant difference between 8 and 12 cylinders?