Bugatti Veyron ???

[FeZ]

What happened to this hyped up megacar :confused:

No new info on this car anymore, no new videos/pictures.

Was it shown at carshows lately ?

Will it ever be build ?

[chris]

No idea.

I've not heard any further news about it. It was an interesting machine, unfortunately faced with massive aerodynamic and mechanical difficulties.

The processes involved in making a 1.5+ tonne car do 406km/hr safely are very tedious and difficult. You could make many a car do that speed if you tried, but making it do it safely, and giving it suitable downforce to stop it taking off, that is the difficult bit.

[VQ]

Maybe they should make it a lot lighter?

[chris]

That would be a pretty good start. Less weight would equal less stress on the tyres. I'd probably recommend the following steps:

- less weight
- re-designed shape to create downforce

For the downforce bit, perhaps they should consult Ferdinand Piech. He would understand what needed to be done to fix it.

What they need to do is give it a shape, and perhaps underbody venturi tunnels so that it has the bernoulli principle, but upside down, so that it will naturally be pressed to the ground at speed.

The problem for very high performance sports-cars is not usually at low speeds, but at higher speeds where they could get take off. Rather like the Mercedes Benz CLR at Le Mans.

In fact, the image I've attached is a very good one, if you look closely, you can even see some of the air-flow over and particularly off the back of the car, and off the rear wing.

However, the problem for Veyron is that they've said it will do 406km/hr. What happens when you start trying for more downforce is that you'll end up giving the car a higher co-efficient of drag, and that hurts top speed badly. For every little bit more drag, you need a significantly larger amount of power to push the car to the intended top speed.

Another problem for road cars is that you can't give it giant downforce or you'll end up with the same problem of F1 cars with ground-effects, you'll need hard suspension, and spring rates of 3000lbs for instance, and that is unacceptable for ride-quality.

[VQ]

why not put a snowmobile motor in with fans at the back to help downforce? :p

[chris]

Oh yeah, that might work, god help you if the extra motor broke down. ;)

I wonder if the Audi Rosemeyer concept car is struck with the same problems as the Veyron, since it has a moderately similar shape.

And what about the Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car? It's also similarly shaped.

[VQ]

there's a trend there, they are all Audi/Volkswagon projects.
On our hovercraft, the Rotax 532 isn't that bad, just it hates revving at 5 grand, and I prefer to be below 5 grand cruising them above.

Otherwise they could do an extra driveshaft, how did Maclaren do it?

[chris]

I think Mclarens fans were electric fans.

[VQ]

ok, that would be a bigger drain on electricty and lose power from alternater, but on the f1 not much was on the battery, but the Veyron does, so a driveshaft or something might work better.

[chris]

The F1 indeed didn't have that much in the way of fancy electrical systems, apart from its Tag-Tronic engine management system, and other basic electrical systems, including the many cooling fans (which often keep running for quite some time after the car has been switched off).

It didn't have sat-nav or anything like that. Though it did have a fairly decent 160 Amp alternator.

Having not seen technical diagrams of the Veyron, I'm guessing, but I'd suspect there would not be much room to fit anything else. The F1 has this issue as well. It was designed to be as compact as possible, resulting in a car with room for everything designed to go into it, and nothing more.

[Frank N. O.]

What about Colin Chapman's brilliant twin-chassis idea?

Personally though I wouldn't want a 400+ kph car on the legal roads. I think the Koenigsegg and McLaren are about as high and fast as things should go. But that's just my oppinion I could be wrong.

Frank

[chris]

We already have Dauer 962 Le Mans and Koenigsegg CCR capable of 400km/hr. Koenigsegg hasn't tested the CCR's top speed yet, but it's going to be above 400km/hr for sure, given the normal 655hp CC does 245mph. The CCR's 806hp will push it beyond 400km/hr for certain.

Colin Chapman's twin-chassis idea allows good ride-comfort, but I still wonder how it copes with driving at low speeds on bumpy corners. It would be as jumpy and tricky to control as anything else I suppose.

Chapmans car is pictured here in a diagram:
http://members.lycos.co.uk/johnclark/lotus88b_l.jpg

You'd still need good driving talent to control something like that, and correct it quickly when needed.

The other possibility would be to use some sort of active suspension system.

[monaro]

what can the Dauer 962 LM do top speed wise?

[chris]

404.6km/hr. :yikes:

It was proven at the Ehra Lessien proving ground I believe.

Originally they claimed 402, but revised it to 404.6 after the test. Amazing achievement. :) That was with 730bhp and 700Nm (at 1.35 bar turbo boost).

The most recent one sold had 885bhp, and should be capable of somewhere near 420km/hr.

You would imagine, given it weighs just 1100kg, the driver would need a big dose of brave pills to drive that monster on the highest turbo-boost setting. It doesn't have traction or stability control either.

[blackice111288]

remember that modified vette called the "sledge hammer"? that thing was said to have topped over 250mph and was street legal.

[bugatti16]

The Bugatti firm is not have problems with to much weight its to much drag from the retractable spoiler that is vital to keep the car from becoming the first to fly.
The answer to Another one of your questions the reason the car is taking so long to build is it is personally hand crafted hand assembled hand sewn and ect... the car costs 1,000,000 Euros So the car kind of has to be perfect.
What is the price of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4.?
1.000.000 Euros (plus local taxes)

What is the top-speed of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4?
406 km/h / 252 mph

What are the official data for the Veyron engine?
1001 hp / 736 kW
16 cylinder
Piston capacity: 7.993 ccm
Torque: 1.250 Nm at 2.200 rpm (922 lb/ft at 2.200 rpm)
Supercharging: four exhaust gas turbo chargers
(for further information: see also chapter "Models/Veyron")

What is the toal production amount of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4.?
300 (limited edition!)

What is the production amount of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. in one production year?
50 - 70 cars

Are there any posters or other material available of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4.?
In preparation (see www.bugatti-book.com)

What are the technical data for the Veyron gear box/transmission?
Gear Ratios:
1st =3.15
2nd =2.25
3rd =1.66
4th =1.29
5th =1.07
6th =0.91
7th =0.75

What are the acceleration times for the Bugatti Veyron 16.4.?
0-100 km/h < 3 sec.
0-200 km/h < 7 sec.
0-300 km/h <14 sec.

Will there be a GT version of the Veyron 16.4.?
No

Will Bugatti produce other cars than the Bugatti Veyron 16.4.?
No other models are planned at the moment.

How can somebody buy the car?
The car will only be distributed directly by Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.

How can I get in contact with Bugatti?
Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.
1, Chateau Saint Jean
67120 Molsheim-Dorlisheim
France

Sincerely
Bugatti

P.S. the spoiler is also used for cooling the engine when parked it stays up until tempter reaches optimum.

[KyzrSoze]

You would know this one too Chris - I have always heard that the US built stealth bomber was actually terrible to fly. The same flat surfaces that provide its stealth capability by reflecting radar signals in weird directions also make for weird aerodynamics and unstable flight. Without the aid of computer controlled flight surfaces the plane would nearly fall from the sky like a brick.

It would seem to me that this sort of technology would also work very well in a car such as the Veyron, albeit in reverse of its original design. Control surfaces that could quickly and minutely respond to retard flight. Over the top I know, but the Veyron crested the top quite awhile ago as it is. :)

[chris]

Yes, I heard about that, but I've never flown one, so I won't profess to know. ;) They did say that it would never fly, but it did. Without its computers to help control it, they say it would crash, or be very unstable. But that is the same for many, Eurofighter Typhoon is another..

Typhoon is unstable by design, but it results in ultra-responsive handling so they reckon.

The idea for Veyron is to keep it firmly planted to the ground in the first place, so the 911 GT1 98, and AMG-Mercedes CLR style flips don't have any chance of happening. I know a Veyron shouldn't be that bad because it is quite a bit more heavy than those light race-machines.

I hope Veyron will succeed. Something with an 8 litre, 16 cylinder, quad-turbocharged engine is so unique. It is an awesome engine.

[FeZ]

some more info.

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=9402

Interesting info about the special procedure for topspeed runs, and the updated 0-300 km/h time of 17sec.
Weight is now said to be around 4300 lb (1950 kg) &(

[Venom800tt]

I too hope it succeeds. Even thought it is heavy I'm quite sure it will still have good handling. Plus it looks quite nice :p

[VQ]

I have read that they will stop at nothing for it to be relsed with it's claim of speed, or else, kinda thing, and mid 06 is now the projected date.