Find or Sell any Parts for Your Vehicle in USA

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport hits 268 mph

Sun, 04 Jul 2010

Bugatti is claiming a new production-car top-speed record with a combined two-run average of 267.9 mph (431.072 kph) with a new Veyron 16.4 Super Sport model, smashing the 253.76-mph record set by a standard Veyron 16.4 in 2005.

It also betters the existing world-record mark of 256.23 mph (412.28 kph) established by Shelby SuperCars with its Ultimate Aero on a 12-mile stretch of road in Nevada in 2007.

Confirming details of the attempt run under tight security at parent company Volkswagen's 13-mile Ehra-Lessien test track in late June, Bugatti says the new Super Sport set the record in the hands of its test driver, Pierre-Henri Raphanel, and under the auspices of officials from the Guinness Book of Records.

In the first round of the attempt running counterclockwise against a prevailing wind, the Super Sport hit 265.96 mph. It then went on to reach a wind-assisted 269.86 mph in a clockwise direction, giving the powered-up Veyron 16.4 a combined average of 267.91 mph.





The new Super Sport, which Bugatti plans to produce in a limited run of no more than 30 units, is set to be the last hurrah for the Veyron 16.4, taking overall production of the flamboyant, quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter, 16-cylinder supercar to 300 units since its introduction in 2005.

Using a lightweight carbon-fiber body created using a new fiber construction and clear finish, the four-wheel-drive Super Sport is claimed to weigh 110 pounds less than the standard Veyron 16.4 at 4,057 pounds. Bugatti has also worked on the Veyron 16.4's engine, taking its peak power from 987 hp to 1,183 hp. Torque increases from 921 lb-ft to 1,106 lb-ft.

Details provided by Bugatti claim the 0-to-62-mph time remains at 2.5 seconds. However, the Super Sport's 0-to-124-mph and 0-to-186-mph times are said to have been lowered to just 7.3 seconds and 15.0 seconds, respectively.

The styling changes made to the Veyron 16.4 to bring it up to Sport Sport specification revolve around its need for added cooling and to control turbulence within the wheel arches at high speed. At the front, Bugatti has reworked the lower air ducts, bringing them out closer to the sides where they continue up along the leading edge of the front wheel arches. They are complemented by new ducts behind the front wheel arches designed to relieve pressure buildup.

The roof also sports two new NACA-style ducts. They replace the Veyron 16.4's traditional engine ducts set further back above the engine. Further aerodynamic modifications include a double diffuser at the rear, incorporating a reworked double tailpipe.

Suspension upgrades, including firmer springs, larger-diameter roll bars and uprated dampers, are also claimed to raise the Super Sport's maximum lateral acceleration to 1.4g.

Bugatti has built 260 copies of the Veyron 16.4 at its boutique assembly plant at Molsheim, France, and 249 have been delivered to customers.




By Greg Kable