Bugatti Veyron Production Comes to an End

On the back of confirmation that the 450th and final Bugatti Veyron has sold out and will debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show 2015, we’ve decided to take a moment and celebrate one of the most influential, recognisable and iconic cars ever created. This is GTspirit’s Bugatti Veyron-rich post marked to send off the French supercar in style before its successor, currently dubbed the Chiron, arrives and aims to trump the Veyron in every aspect.

bugatti-veyron-eb-18-4-concept-1999-tokyo-motor-show_100455932_l

The Bugatti Veyron story starts way back in the Tokyo Motor Show 1999 when the covers were taken off the bold Bugatti Veyron EB 18.4 concept. Unlike the eventual production-spec Veyron, the original concept made use of a 3-bank W18 engine joined with four turbochargers like the Bugatti EB110 before it. All told, it delivered 555 hp from its 6.3-litres as well as a proposed top speed of 300 km/h and a sprint to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.

Incredibly, the Bugatti Veyron EB 18.4 concept was just the fourth design study from the French automaker in a 15-month period and followed on from the Bugatti 18/3 Chiron, Bugatti EB218 and Bugatti EB118.

By 2001, the Volkswagen Group green-lit the Veyron project alongside the release of the 2001 Bugatti Veyron concept. Unlike the car before it, it made use of a W16 engine and produced a total of 987 hp (1001 PS). In 2002, a couple of additional Veyron concepts were introduced and by the time 2004 rolled around, a total of 11 Veyron prototypes had been built and were testing around the world. In September 2005, production of the Bugatti Veyron commenced and it completely revolutionised the supercar segment with a 407 km/h top speed and a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 2.5 seconds. That top speed was then verified, and actually raised to 408.47 km/h on April 19, 2005 at the Ehra-Lessien test facility.

Generally speaking, there were four variants of the Bugatti Veyron available to the public. The ‘standard’ Bugatti Veyron 16.4, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport and the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. In between these versions are literally dozens of special editions and bespoke creations ranging from the Pur Sang of 2007 through to the Grand Sport Vitesse 1 of 1 introduced late last year.

Bugatti Veyron Production Comes to an End

As it stands, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s fastest production car while the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is the world’s fastest production convertible. Powering both of these variants is a tuned variant of the 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine delivering 1200 hp at 6400 rpm and 1500 Nm of torque between 3000 and 5000 rpm. In Veyron Super Sport specification, the car can reach 431 km/h (267.8 mph) while the top speed of the Vitesse (introduced in 2012) sits at 408/84 km/h (254.04 mph).

Bugatti Veyron Production Comes to an End

To send off the Bugatti Veyron, the exclusive Legend editions were offered consisting of six different variants celebrating key figures in Bugatti history and each limited to three units based on the Grand Sport Vitesse. They are the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille, Jean Bugatti, Rembrandt Bugatti, Black Bess, Ettore Bugatti and the Meo Costantini.

Previous articleLaFerrari Duo Rocks Ferrari Newport Beach Dinner Party
Next articleMercedes-Benz Driving Events Kick Off With an Icy Start

3 COMMENTS

  1. Kudos to Volkswagen Group for having the balls to green light this car, even though they were losing $$$$ on every one built. That takes commitment ( an a large dose of ego)! Thanks for the memories, can’t wait to see what they do next!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here