Even Faster Car Blog

Returning to its roots in Molsheim, Alsace, France, the Bugatti Veyron is legendary just like its namesakes. Ettore Bugatti, the founder and driving force behind the iconic Bugatti name, and Pierre Veyron, 1939 Le Mans winner and Bugatti race car driver, would both be proud of the car that bears their names. Equally honorable is the fact that the Veyron was chosen to showcase one hundred years of history with the 2009 Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire Edition worth approximately US$2,019,195.00 (just over two million dollars).

Introduced at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, the first Veyron was the EB 18.4 concept car featuring the W18 engine with three banks of six cylinders. By the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen (owner of Bugatti since 1998) announced that the Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron was coming. Built with the W16 engine comprised of two V-8 cylinder banks, the 8.0 liter, four-wheel drive, carbon-fiber monocoque chassis Veyron would be hand-assembled just like previous race cars. It was estimated that it would be the fastest road-legal car ever, reaching speeds of 250 mph with an incredible start up of 185 mph in 14.0 seconds.

Obviously an exotic vehicle, as production is extremely limited and most people in this world  cannot afford such an exuberant purchase, the Veyron has been created in several different models. For 2007, the Special Edition Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Pur Sang was a throwback to the great Bugatti racing era where cars were plain and not painted. Its two-tone color is derived from the outer shell made of aluminum alloy and the body of carbon fiber. Originally, only five cars were to be built but as soon as it launched in Dubai, six were rumored to sell the first day.

The 2008 EB 16.4 Veyron Sang Noir painted in black with hand-stitched leather orange (tangerine) interior is a masterful combination of elegance and functionality. For customers who wish to personalize their cars, according to the official Bugatti website, they may choose other colors from the company’s interior range. The car proudly displays the traditional Bugatti “horseshoe” grill on the front of the car and the EB badge with the backward “E” and forward “B” on the side of the car just to the rear of the door.

Aesthetic design and state-of-the-art technology are key factors in the 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport. With the intention of building “the world’s fastest convertible car”, the new model had to exhibit an appealing and sleek look, possess the racing features of past Bugattis, and meet or exceed all current safety requirements. The Grand Sport had to be durable but lightweight, thus, components such as titanium, carbon fiber, magnesium and aluminum were used.

But the crowning glory in this magnificent gallery of exotic cars is the 2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Fbg par HERMÈS unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. A flawless piece of craftsmanship incorporating two prestigious names, a marriage between automobile technology and haute couture, this latest Veyron is breathtaking in maroon and beige. Completed by hand in the Hermès workshop, refinement, elegance and attention to detail are clearly seen in the leather interior. One of the finer details is the front grill. Using the traditional Bugatti horseshoe, the lacing is made up of many “H”s instead. Total production time for the complete Veyron was one month.

By all accounts, Bugatti engineers have achieved the directive mandated by Volkswagen CEO Ferdinand Piëch to “revive the heritage of Ettore Bugatti with this new super sports car”.