How ... unexciting.
I see them talking smack about it on Top Gear!
I do wonder if they're gonna take a massive loss on these like they did with the Veyron (yep, even though it cost well over $1million, it cost far more to make). It seems like they won't be, though, because they plan to make so many more.
I can build a Vette that can bend a Veyron over and have it's way with it.
This sedan?
Oh...
I haven't seen such Fail in a long time.This ranks up there with Toyota killing the Celica.
As for the whole hybrid thing, the recent Top Gear had it right- until they can solve the energy storage problem (i.e. batteries that only have enough energy for an hour or so and burn out after 3-5 years) there's not much benefit.
I doubt the Veyron really cost more than a million to build. If they did, they really really got ripped off.
I can build a Vette that can bend a Veyron over and have it's way with it.
This sedan?
Oh...
This ranks up there with Toyota killing the Celica.
I'd love to see a Vette that could touch a Veyron.
Over 1k HP is ... huge. The ZR1 isn't even close. You'd need to add a standard Vette engine to a ZR1 to get to Veyron levels of insanity. And the Veyron does have two V8s (W16). Oh, and like four tubos at least or something. Bugatti swears they lose cash on every one. Considering the materials used to build one, it's not impossible. But yeah, the sedan is just ... blah.
Unless you look at it from the front, that vehicle looks a lot like a Bently Continental. Bugatti could have just made a four-door, mid-engine "sedan" based on the Veyron- that would have been cool.
As for the whole hybrid thing, the recent Top Gear had it right- until they can solve the energy storage problem (i.e. batteries that only have enough energy for an hour or so and burn out after 3-5 years) there's not much benefit.
Don't forget that hybrids - touted for environmental friendliness - are also incredibly environmentally irresponsible. With materials that are sourced from around the world (and some of which are nasty, too) the things waste craptons of fuel and send out all sorts of emissions before they're even put together.
I'd love to see a Vette that could touch a Veyron.
Bugatti swears they lose cash on every one. Considering the materials used to build one, it's not impossible. But yeah, the sedan is just ... blah.
Don't forget that hybrids - touted for environmental friendliness - are also incredibly environmentally irresponsible. With materials that are sourced from around the world (and some of which are nasty, too) the things waste craptons of fuel and send out all sorts of emissions before they're even put together.
Easy, get a ZO6 now add a high end Gale Banks kit. Inject with alcohol, replace the mufflers with a straight flow system. Should be good for about 950 Rear Wheel Horse Power. Given that the ZO6 is like 1klbs lighter it'll bend the Veyron over easy enough. (note the Buggatti's HP is at the Crankshaft not at the wheels) Throw true Racing Tires on for good measure.
I gaurantee you you'll be spending far less than a million. At most we're talking 120k, assuming you also wanted to upgrade the well Chevy Interior.
It'll certainly beat a Veryon's ass around a race track seeing as how the Veyron wears it's brakes out very quickly under heavy driving (due to it being a Fatass), and stomp one in a 1/4 mile.
Back when I was first getting my Camaro, I was looking for turbo kits for my TPI 350. I found one (and lost it by 3 dollars.... son of a) that would have been capable of propelling the car up to 850 rwhp. I'd have had to get heads for the engine, and the usual bottom end treatment, but 1k horse power, really isn't that much when you've got money to burn.
EDIT: Oh, I thought you meant top speed (in luxury). What the Veyron was designed for. It was a technical achievement because no production vehicle has ever hit 250mph before it. And it was designed specifically to do that.
Well, there's also the added trouble of aerodynamic speed limit. There's a reason they designed the Veyron from the ground up - no car that existed was capable of hitting the speeds they wanted it to. Part of that, IMO, was in the basic design - from weight allocation to overall aerodynamics. I have no idea what a Vette would be limited to aerodynamically, though. I do know, however, that the rear shell would obliterate itself at 250mph. Them things is way too loose.
EDIT: Oh, I thought you meant top speed (in luxury). What the Veyron was designed for. It was a technical achievement because no production vehicle has ever hit 250mph before it. And it was designed specifically to do that.
You've never seen bonneville salt flats records have you :P
The Vette is actually one of the least drag cars of all time too.
However if you want to talk about almost dragless, then go with the 91 Firebird. And with enough hp you can shovel any top speed out.
You know the old saying you can make a brick fly if you put enough power behind it? Works for land speed too. Bank's firebird on the salt flats hit 228.4 Which was using a TPI equipped 350. I'm pretty sure a vette with an LS2, LS7, or LS9 under the hood could do better. Now if you put that on whatever track they had the Veyron on for testing I bet it'd stomp it, simply because there's hardly any traction on salt, you can't just keep the hammer down. They just wanted a car that they could say hits 250, and has the features of an Escalade.
The Veyron's either heinously overcosted, or they have some of the worst engineers in the automotive industry working on it. Hell Stock Cars in the 80s were hitting 230 at Daytona.
Then again, considering the way those who own them drive them, I doubt any Veyron will survive long enough to make it to that milage number.
You've never seen bonneville salt flats records have you :P
The Vette is actually one of the least drag cars of all time too.
However if you want to talk about almost dragless, then go with the 91 Firebird. And with enough hp you can shovel any top speed out.
They just wanted a car that they could say hits 250, and has the features of an Escalade.
The Veyron's either heinously overcosted, or they have some of the worst engineers in the automotive industry working on it. Hell Stock Cars in the 80s were hitting 230 at Daytona.
The thing is, I guess the difference between 230 and 250 is insane. Like, everything is different. A Veyron's tires at top speed only last like 20 mins or something. It's not like you just add HP and go faster. You need to have everything working to that specific end - and you need an asston of HP, too. Meh, I think it's a true technological achievement.
I think the Veyron was best described as a locomotive- not only can it go fast (speed-wise) now, it will still do 200+ mph when it has 100k miles on it.
Then again, considering the way those who own them drive them, I doubt any Veyron will survive long enough to make it to that milage number.
Lies!!! All lies!!!
Bugatti drivers are awesomely good drivers.
You've never seen bonneville salt flats records have you :P
The Vette is actually one of the least drag cars of all time too.
However if you want to talk about almost dragless, then go with the 91 Firebird. And with enough hp you can shovel any top speed out.
They just wanted a car that they could say hits 250, and has the features of an Escalade.
The Veyron's either heinously overcosted, or they have some of the worst engineers in the automotive industry working on it. Hell Stock Cars in the 80s were hitting 230 at Daytona.
The thing is, I guess the difference between 230 and 250 is insane. Like, everything is different. A Veyron's tires at top speed only last like 20 mins or something. It's not like you just add HP and go faster. You need to have everything working to that specific end - and you need an asston of HP, too. Meh, I think it's a true technological achievement.
Probably true, but after hitting top speed, the corvette wil still drive you home. You are going to have to push the Veyron to a gas station
But, ****, yo. If ya make the bank to buy a Veyron, ya make the bank to buy car porters.
The thing is, I guess the difference between 230 and 250 is insane. Like, everything is different. A Veyron's tires at top speed only last like 20 mins or something. It's not like you just add HP and go faster. You need to have everything working to that specific end - and you need an asston of HP, too. Meh, I think it's a true technological achievement.
Yeah, and salt to pavement is vastly different, Salt is much harder on the tires than pavement. And if you were that desperate, just shoe the car with Mclaren F1 rubber. (though if you're going for true Race Tires, that won't be a problem anyway) It is also much harder to maintain speed on salt, as you have to feather the throttle in and out on a Speed Run, in order to maintain control of the vehicle.
The only thing that's impressive about it to me, is they did it with a car that weighs twice as much as a corvette or firebird.
The real challenge to building a 250 mph car, is making it marketable to suckers. Because anyone else that wants to go 250 or god forbid more is going to either buy/build a full on race car, or build it themselves (the Firebird in question? is their Pizza and parts delivery vehicle) and have a ultilitarian vehicle in the process.
Also, the cars on Daytona in the 80s? Those tires had to endure Side Load from 40 degree banking. And were being slowed down by the banking in the turns. The rubber could probably hold up to a straight line blitz if they can hold up to 230 mph, with 2 gs worth of 3600 lb stock car on them for 60 laps, while also overtaking other cars.
Long story short, is if you went to Gale Banks or someone on that level of engine, and turbo building and said "i want to beat a Veyron in a straight line" if you've got the $ (and if you can even contemplate buying a Veryon you easily have the cash, you do) he'll make you a car that can do it, and imo look better while doing it.