It is Bugatti’s convertible hypercar that reaches a top speed of 410 km/h. The speed record mark was set by Chinese businessman and racing driver Anthony Liu in 2013, when he signed 408.84 km/h. Scroll down below to see these incredible feats of engineering that turned a decade old.
The last most engraved convertible car created by Bugatti dates back to 1938, with the Type 57 SC Córcega Roadster. Customers called for a facelift and the answer to that request came in 2008, with a model that has fused luxury and speed. However, it was not a simple creation to settle pending accounts, but the house engineers went beyond the limits and created a hypercar that has just turned 10 years old.
Its ever-evolving level of performance made it the fastest open-top car on earth. In 2013, he signed no less than a maximum speed of 408.84 km/h, a record that still stands and a merit that earned him entry into the Guinness Book under that category, according to the official website of Bugatti.
We are talking about Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitessethe convertible version of the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, in 2012. It was a copy that presented the challenge of achieving sufficient driving stability and avoiding rollovers. The key, in that sense, went through the removable roof of the predecessor model of the cabriolet.
The solution was the creation of a removable roof module made of lightweight polycarbonate, which made it easier to drive. While it may be easy to understand, it was just the opposite when it was built: it was reinforced with an extreme high-performance torsional stiffness level of 22,000Nm to keep it as safe as possible.
Bugatti’s convertible challenge
In the words of the president of Bugatti Automobiles, Christophe Piochon, “minus the roof, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse demonstrates how unparalleled the manufacturer’s engineering expertise is. Although the weight distribution is completely different when the roof is down, the vehicle remains stable and accelerates just as impressively as it does with the roof closed.
In this sense, the owner of the French house highlights: “With the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, Bugatti showed that it was possible to build an open-top hypercar with very high performance and power output that drives extremely dynamically and very comfortably.”
How is the fastest Bugatti in the world
The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse lives up to its name: Vitesse means speed. It is powered by a huge W16 engine, which translates into a block of 8 cylinders per side capable of producing an extreme power of 1200 CV. It reaches a top speed of 410 km/h and the record mark, set by Chinese businessman and racing driver Anthony Liu in 2013, was set at 408.84 km/h, with the roof open.
The predecessor of the one introduced in 2008, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, was pushed by 1,001 hp and had reported phenomenal power in convertible mode, but the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse took the experience to the extreme, adding 199 hp and introducing four larger turbochargers, along with with new intercoolers.
It is a car is extremely robust, with a monocoque design that mixes body rigidity and lightweight construction. To ensure safety, this car has been reinforced with side skirts, a transmission tunnel, and a carbon fiber bracket.
In addition, the side doors of this roadster are made of carbon fiber and conceal an integrated longitudinal support with pins that transfers the load from the A-pillar to the B-pillar in the event of an accident, reducing the force of impact.
the front of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse it has wide air intakes as in the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. The lower air slot extends laterally into the wheel well. Below the air intake there is a front spoiler which is joined by a double diffuser, a central twin-pipe exhaust system and a roof edge spoiler.
Not so color fact: Unlike the coupe, this roadster is made entirely of carbon. Therefore, Bugatti also offers the option of visible and transparent carbon paint. In turn, it has two air intakes on each side of the engine cover, which suck air in an elegant way to protect against rollovers.
How is the engine of the fastest Bugatti on the planet
The drivetrain of this French hypercar includes a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG) gear. It combines a fuel system taken from the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport which has a tank with four pumps that feed it with fuel.
The last of a dynasty
According to the manufacturer, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse was to be the last model in the Veyron series, with the 2013 version becoming part of the range The Legends of Bugatti. This series of special cars celebrated six historic men of the brand: Jean-Pierre Wimille, Jean Bugatti, Meo Costantini, Rembrandt Bugatti, Black Bess and Ettore Bugatti, as well as the creativity of the automaker. Do you dare to drive this convertible with your hair in the wind and feel the speed on your face?