Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4

The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a mid-engine grand tourer produced by Bugatti headquarters in

Château St Jean in Molsheim (Alsace, France), and whose production and development is often credited to Ferdinand Karl Piech. It is named after French racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti company. Two hundred examples of the Veyron are known to have been built and delivered since production began. There will be a total of 300 built.

"The Veyron is a truly groundbreaking vehicle," says Wolfgang Schreiber, technical director of Bugatti Engineering, one of only three people who regularly push the EB 16.4 to the limit. Before the Veyron, he specialized in lightweight materials and recently guided development of Volkswagen's twin-clutch DSG transmission. "The maximum combustion energy adds up to 3000 PS: 1000 is swallowed by the cooling system, 1000 goes through the exhaust, and 1000 is relayed to the four driven wheels;?1000 PS is a whole new dimension.

"The same applies to the maximum torque of 922 lb-ft at 2000 rpm. However, while other transmissions would go bust facing a four-figure challenge, ours can take up to 1107 lb-ft. With the ESP stability system switched off, you can even provoke third-gear wheel spin on slippery surfaces. That's why it takes time to familiarize yourself with this machine. The Veyron is benign and relatively easy to drive by supercar standards, but it requires respect.