It would be optimistic to hope that the Veyron will break the tradition of Bugattis existing mostly as stationary pieces in collections. There’s simply too much technology and craftsmanship here to hermetically seal and leave idle. However, it’s probably a million-to-one shot — 1.4 million, that is, if you consider the price of admission.
Upon first seeing the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, a few preconceived notions are dispelled. First, it looks more appealing in person than in photos; the styling is more harmonious to the eye than it appears digitally. Even the signature horseshoe grille and contrasting paint scheme flow much better. On further inspection, one notices the Veyron’s exotic exterior details — little things like the number of places air flows in and out of the car in the line of duty and the lack of an engine cover.
For an exotic car with such prowess, you’d imagine it to be a bear to control from inside a sparse interior. Rather, it’s not a bad place to be, with loads of leather and aluminum trim. No-nonsense analog gauges relay the vital stats, including a unique horsepower dial. Rather than contain rows of excessive buttons and switches, the dash and console contain just a few multifunction controls for the essentials. The result is clean and lends itself to a less claustrophobic feel behind the wheel.
When you decide you need your space and separate yourself from your exotic surroundings, the Veyron is a handy tool. With all-wheel drive and the 8-liter, quad turbo, W-16 offering 1,001 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 922 lb-ft of torque at just 2,200 rpm, otherworldly speed is achieved with a mere twitch of your foot. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 moves from 0 to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds, 0 to 124 mph takes 7.3 seconds and 0 to 186 mph only requires 16.7 seconds of your time. The governed top speed is 252 mph.
Back in the day, car designer Ettore Bugatti is said to have stubbornly defended his use of mechanical brakes, saying his cars were made to go, not stop. Today’s car thankfully abandons half that mantra with ABS plus drilled/vented discs in the front and rear, 15.7 inches and 15 inches, respectively. They’re good enough to yank the 4,162-pound Veyron to a halt from 62 mph in 103 feet. The car rides on 20-inch by 10-inch rims in front and 21-inch by 14-inch rims in back, with Michelin run-flat tires all around.
It’s fitting for a million-dollar plus car to offer a huge palette of exterior and interior color options. Bugatti tradition suggests you choose a primary and secondary paint color scheme, though the Veyron is still quite striking in a single hue. If you’re a loyalist, consider less abrupt shades. We feel the Veyron makes enough of a statement without burning bystanders’ retinas.
Article by: Thomas Bey
Source: askmen.com