Bugatti
Veyron 16.4

Optimum elegance and cutting-edge technology

The Veyron 16.4 harmoniously combines athletic performance and elegant form, bringing the proud history that is part of the Bugatti-DNA into the present.

The classic two-tone design creates the characteristic side view with the signature Bugatti line. The center line and horseshoe-shaped radiator grille also bridge the gap between the early Bugatti models and the present day. The broad rear section features an imposing retractable spoiler and prominent wings, while the horizontal headlamps and radiator define a striking front.

Exquisite details for exacting requirements

The materials chosen for the interior uncompromisingly fulfill the highest of standards in every last detail. A specially developed aluminum alloy and pristine leather dominate the spacious interior design. The light metal steering wheel with a leather cover is a work of art in its own right. The handcrafted center console has an appealing brushed aluminum look and suggests a horseshoe shape, echoing the exterior. 

Designers and technicians worked together to harmoniously integrate all functions in the cockpit, giving the Veyron the unique atmosphere and quality of a Bugatti.

Technical maxims

The Veyron’s specs took automotive performance into a new dimension. It is the first – and the only – supercar to be developed and constructed with a series configuration that can master any driving scenario at any time.  

While other supercars need to be specially prepared for the relevant scenario beforehand, the Veyron rapidly configures itself accordingly without the driver needing to do anything. Maximum acceleration on long straights, winding country roads or urban traffic – the Veyron is always perfectly configured and extremely comfortable to drive. 

Datasheet

Engine

The heart and soul of the Veyron is the 8.0-liter W16 engine with four turbochargers, which initially generated 1,001 PS, and an incredible 1,200 PS in later models. The 16-cylinder mid-engine is 710 mm in length, no longer than a conventional V12 engine, and weighs just 490 kg due to its lightweight construction. The engine is fully capable of operating under a continuous full load, a feat that engines designed for use in motor racing, for example, cannot achieve. Its compact dimensions are due to the unique arrangement of its cylinder banks in a W configuration. Two VR8 blocks, each with a 15-degree bank angle, are joined in the crankcase to form one engine. Both eight-cylinder blocks are set at an angle of 90 degrees to each other and are aspirated by a total of four exhaust gas turbochargers.

Gearbox

The Veyron is equipped with a dual-clutch gearbox (DSG), which is the fastest gearbox in the world. Bugatti was the first manufacturer to use a seven-speed variant of the DSG. Designed specially for the new sports car, this gearbox has a job which any other road car gearbox would balk at: to transfer engine torque of up to 1,500 Nm to the road surface.

At the time, the direct-shift gearbox used in the Veyron was a uniquely perfect combination of the dynamic advantages of a manual gearbox with the convenience of an automatic transmission. When it was developed, no other manufacturer had comparable technology.

Adaptive boost-pressure fuel injection

In a high-performance vehicle such as the Veyron, it is essential that the engine is always supplied with constant fuel pressure. This also required a new development, and so Bugatti invented AC injection pumps which, unlike conventional plus/minus polarised pumps, are able to supply the engine with the required amounts of fuel continuously at a constant pressure.

The fuel tank also had to be redesigned. Bugatti turned to the world of motorsport, but had to rebuild the conventional fuel tank used in racing, which is not permitted for road vehicles, to ensure that it would be approved. Bugatti consulted engineers in the aerospace industry, and the outcome was a fuel tank with an external Teflon coating which provides the fuel pumps with a constant supply of fuel in every situation, up to a residual capacity of three liters and maximum lateral acceleration of 1.4 G.

Cooling

Cooling is an extremely important aspect of the Veyron. Sophisticated airflow patterns were devised to conduct sufficient cooling air to the vehicle’s ten radiators and extract hot air without compromising the vehicle design – a key consideration.

During combustion, some 2,400 PS of additional heat is generated for 1,200 PS of drive power. To cope with this, the Bugatti engine has two water circuits. The larger circuit contains 40 liters of coolant water in three radiators in the front section of the vehicle to keep the engine at operating temperature.

The second, a low-temperature circuit with a separate water pump, contains 20 liters of coolant water. This system cools the charged air and helps, for instance, to prevent the car from overheating in slow traffic, which is a common problem in high-performance sports cars.

Tires

For the Veyron, Bugatti worked in partnership with Michelin to develop the world's first mass-produced tire that can withstand speeds in the region of 400 km/h. The production tires can be used for all speed ranges, which means that the Veyron does not require a different set of tires when being driven at maximum speed. This was an important criterion which the developers had to fulfill in order to ensure the vehicle’s suitability for everyday driving.

One exciting detail of tire development is the new tire pressure sensor that had to be developed for the Veyron. Centrifugal forces of up to 130 kg are generated at speeds in excess of 400 km/h. This required extensive tests on a test stand used for aircraft gas turbines in order to simulate the high speeds of the Veyron wheels. At the time, this kind of system was not available in the automotive industry.

Brakes

Bugatti developed a high-performance braking system featuring many unique components in order to control the powerful forces effectively and bring the vehicle to a halt safely and quickly. Certain components were designed in conjunction with development partners from the aerospace industry.

Experiencing the Bugatti’s braking system in action is just as much of a thrill as the acceleration. Combined with the simultaneous application of the airbrake, an aerodynamic braking function integrated into the rear wing, the Veyron generates breathtaking deceleration values.

Bugatti chose carbon-ceramic as the preferred material for the brake discs, a Bugatti first, in order to achieve maximum braking performance and to withstand brake disc surface temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees. In addition, titanium was used for the brake disc hub instead of the usual stainless steel. As a result, the Veyron had by far the strongest braking performance in the automotive industry and motorsport at the time.

Variable aerodynamics

The Veyron’s design is an outstanding feature, which clearly sets the supercar apart from other high-performance vehicles. The shape and style of the Veyron are strongly based on the historical design DNA of the brand. The strict requirement to stick to the design of the car did not always make life easy for the developers, and this was also the case in relation to the aerodynamics, which are an essential element of a supercar. 

The most important technical element on the Veyron in this regard is the rear wing. At speeds above 200 km/h it provides additional optimisation of braking performance. The wing flips up to an angle of 55 degrees in less than 0.4 seconds, with important consequences. Firstly, it increases the rear axle downforce, thereby improving the distribution of braking power between the front and rear axles. Secondly, it increases the air resistance, as when an aircraft is landing. At high speeds, the airbrake alone causes deceleration of up to 0.6 G. It is activated via the brake pressure. With standard tires on appropriate road surfaces, the wheel brakes generate deceleration values of around 1.4 G.