Luke15 Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Quote from the times online When you push a car past 180mph, the world starts to get awfully fizzy and a little bit frightening. When you go past 200mph it actually becomes blurred. Almost like you’re trapped in an early Queen pop video. At this sort of speed the tyres and the suspension are reacting to events that happened some time ago, and they have not finished reacting before they’re being asked to do something else. The result is a terrifying vibration that rattles your optical nerves, causing double vision. This is not good when you’re covering 300ft a second. Happily, stopping distances become irrelevant because you won’t see the obstacle in the first place. By the time you know it was there, you’ll have gone through the windscreen, through the Pearly Gates and be half way across God’s breakfast table. * Click here to find out more! It has always been thus. When Louis Rigolly broke the 100mph barrier in his Gobron in 1904, the vibration would have been terrifying. And I dare say that driving an E-type at 150mph in 1966 must have been a bit sporty as well. But once you go past 200mph it isn’t just the suspension and the tyres you have to worry about. The biggest problem is the air. At 100mph it’s relaxed. At 150mph it’s a breeze. But at 200mph it has sufficient power to lift an 800,000lb jumbo jet off the ground. A 200mph gust of wind is strong enough to knock down an entire city. So getting a car to behave itself in conditions like these is tough. At 200mph you can feel the front of the car getting light as it starts to lift. As a result you start to lose your steering, so you aren’t even able to steer round whatever it is you can’t see because of the vibrations. Make no mistake, 200mph is at the limit of what man can do right now. Which is why the new Bugatti Veyron is worthy of some industrial strength genuflection. Because it can do 252mph. And that’s just mad — 252mph means that in straight and level flight this car is as near as makes no difference as fast as a Hawker Hurricane. You might point out at this juncture that the McLaren F1 could top 240mph, but at that speed it was pretty much out of control. And anyway it really isn’t in the same league as the Bugatti. In a drag race you could let the McLaren get to 120mph before setting off in the Veyron. And you’d still get to 200mph first. The Bugatti is way, way faster than anything else the roads have seen. Of course, at £810,000, it is also jolly expensive, but when you look at the history of its development you’ll discover it’s rather more than just a car . . . Make no mistake, 200mph is at the limit of what man can do right now. Which is why the new Bugatti Veyron is worthy of some industrial strength genuflection. Because it can do 252mph. And that’s just mad — 252mph means that in straight and level flight this car is as near as makes no difference as fast as a Hawker Hurricane It all started when Ferdinand Piëch, the swivel-eyed former boss of Volkswagen, bought Bugatti and had someone design a concept car. “This,” he said, “is what the next Bugatti will look like.” And then, without consulting anyone, he went on. “And it vill have an engine that develops 1000 horsepower and it vill be capable of 400kph.” His engineers were horrified. But they set to work anyway, mating two Audi V8s to create an 8 litre W16. Which was then garnished with four turbochargers. Needless to say, the end result produced about as much power as the earth’s core, which is fine. But somehow the giant had to be cooled, which is why the Veyron has no engine cover and why it has 10 — count them — 10 radiators. Then things got tricky because the power had to be harnessed. For this, VW went to Ricardo, a British company that makes gearboxes for various Formula One teams. “God, it was hard,” said one of the engineers I know vaguely. “The gearbox in an F1 car only has to last a few hours. Volkswagen wanted the Veyron’s to last 10 or 20 years. And remember, the Bugatti is a damn sight more powerful than any F1 car.” The result, a seven-speed double-clutch flappy paddle affair, took a team of 50 engineers five years to perfect. With this done, the Veyron was shipped to Sauber’s F1 wind tunnel where it quickly became apparent that while the magic 1000bhp figure had been achieved, they were miles off the target top speed of 400kph (248mph). The body of the car just wasn’t aerodynamic enough, and Volkswagen wouldn’t let them change the basic shape to get round the problem. The bods at Sauber threw up their hands, saying they only had experience of aerodynamics up to maybe 360kph, which is the effective top speed in Formula One. Beyond this point Bugatti was on its own. Somehow they had to find an extra 30kph, and there was no point in looking to the engine for answers because each extra 1kph increase in speed requires an extra 8bhp from the power plant. An extra 30kph then would need an extra 240bhp. That was not possible. The extra speed had to come from changing small things on the body. They started by fitting smaller door mirrors, which upped the top speed a bit but at too high a price. It turned out that the bigger ones had been keeping the nose of the car on the ground. Without them the stability was gone. In other words, the door mirrors were generating downforce. That gives you an idea of how much of a bastard the air can be at this speed. Theres only one thing i can say, its a gang bang on wheels If you saw Top Gear today, you know what i mean. Its simply spectacular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZAZEL Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 I want one. ~az Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logic3 Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 So this is basically another topic made, that could easily be covered in the Top Gear topic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke15 Posted December 11, 2005 Author Share Posted December 11, 2005 This is another topic made But i think it should not be in top gear section as this car i svery unique, very special, which you dont seem to grasp the logic of. You dont find a 1000hp car every day . You should know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 bleh. I need to download the new season, never the time to watch it. I don't argree on the Veyron btw. I think i'm the only one who thinks it brings up the concept of inutility on wheels. Signature soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logic3 Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 This is another topic made But i think it should not be in top gear section as this car i svery unique, very special, which you dont seem to grasp the logic of. You dont find a 1000hp car every day . You should know that. 1001Bhp And it was on Top Gear, so why shouldn't this be in the Top Gear topic ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletProofPatriot Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Many cars were on Top Gear. So any car that appeared on Top Gear belongs in the Top Gear topic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzO Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 That is a sick car.. Man, it's a plane, lol. It could be easily transformed into one, hehe. Too bad I didn't see Top Gear. Need to google for it. Thanks for the nice info, Luke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logic3 Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Many cars were on Top Gear. So any car that appeared on Top Gear belongs in the Top Gear topic? Yep, don't see why not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCorrupt Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Many cars were on Top Gear. So any car that appeared on Top Gear belongs in the Top Gear topic? Yep, don't see why not. f*ck it...lets just delete every topic in vehicle chat...and integrate everything with top gear. On the note of the Veyron, anyone have some videos of it, or have some recordings of the engine sound? its gotta sound awesome... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*gta star* Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Wow, thats nice. I love the shape! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knife Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Many cars were on Top Gear. So any car that appeared on Top Gear belongs in the Top Gear topic? Yep, don't see why not. Anyway, yeah, teh car seems great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJHW Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Pfft, it's got Skoda lights... Not literally, but that's what they look like... Fast yes, Pretty, no... Give me a Murciélago anyday... +FF7F24+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mossos Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 I don't argree on the Veyron btw. I think i'm the only one who thinks it brings up the concept of inutility on wheels. You're not the only one. Besides, being completely unpractical outside of Germany (Autobahn), it's ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke15 Posted December 12, 2005 Author Share Posted December 12, 2005 Have you lost your taste? Too many american cars influence you. This is pure beauty. Having that amount of power at your finger tips is simply extraordinary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mossos Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Have you lost your taste? Too many american cars influence you. That was a retarded comment because I'm not that fond of American cars, either. I enjoy many and most European cars. Just because I don't like the Veyron doesn't mean I'm a douche bag redneck from Alabama that goes crazy over an LS8. And for the cost of the car, I'd rather have an entire garage filled with cars I'd rather drive and could have one for every day of the week, maybe even drive each car twice a month. That's a better and more important dream of mine than owning a Veyron. Buggati - A company I've never liked and probably never will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretch. Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 The Veyron is one nuts piece of engineering yes, 10 radiators and all. But we'll never see another car like the Veyron, it COSTS volkswagon around £5 million for every veyron sale. Shame really, if more companies took after them, engineering would mean a whole new thing. All this coming from someone who hated the Veyron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hailfire Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 jeremy clarkson said that if u put that thing and the mclaren mercedes F1 car, and that on a start line, and let the mclaren get to 100 mph then start in the bugatti, the veyron will beat the mclaren to 200 mph. it costs over £5,000,000 to build a peace, butthere flogging them for under £900,000................... wtf? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uzer Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Have you lost your taste? Too many american cars influence you. This is pure beauty. Having that amount of power at your finger tips is simply extraordinary. How do you see the road when you're steering with your feet while your hands are on the pedals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Killer Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Holy sh*t...I want one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That guy. Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Definately an amazing machine. Not the prettiest car I've seen, but the technology put into this car is amazing. I'd pay some good money just to be able to ride in that car at 250 mph out at the Utah salt flats or something. Would be a hell of an experience. Thanks to Guybrush Threepwood for the... 1 of a kind sig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJHW Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 SKODA STYLE LIGHTS... There's nothing beautiful about it I don't think... It look purposeful more than beautiful. Don't get me wrong, I like the thing, but i dunno, it's not got the STYLE of Lambo's, or even it's EB110 predecessor... +FF7F24+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuff_luv_capo Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 SKODA STYLE LIGHTS... There's nothing beautiful about it I don't think... It look purposeful more than beautiful. Don't get me wrong, I like the thing, but i dunno, it's not got the STYLE of Lambo's, or even it's EB110 predecessor... +FF7F24+ That's your second post saying the exact same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTA3Freak-2001 Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 It may not be the prettiest thing but who honestly cares when its such an amazing machine with so much power and speed. I mean it uses up all its fuel in 12 minutes at full pelt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilPenguin Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 The Ariel Atom. Double the excitement, minus the gay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uzer Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 It may not be the prettiest thing but who honestly cares when its such an amazing machine with so much power and speed. I mean it uses up all its fuel in 12 minutes at full pelt! Yes, but where are you going to be able to do 252mph for 12 minutes straight anyway? You'd cover 50 miles in that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTA3Freak-2001 Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 It may not be the prettiest thing but who honestly cares when its such an amazing machine with so much power and speed. I mean it uses up all its fuel in 12 minutes at full pelt! Yes, but where are you going to be able to do 252mph for 12 minutes straight anyway? You'd cover 50 miles in that time. Yeah well that's true but we all love statistics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mossos Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 It may not be the prettiest thing but who honestly cares when its such an amazing machine with so much power and speed. I mean it uses up all its fuel in 12 minutes at full pelt! Yes, but where are you going to be able to do 252mph for 12 minutes straight anyway? You'd cover 50 miles in that time. Doing circles around the Salt Flats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTA3Freak-2001 Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 It may not be the prettiest thing but who honestly cares when its such an amazing machine with so much power and speed. I mean it uses up all its fuel in 12 minutes at full pelt! Yes, but where are you going to be able to do 252mph for 12 minutes straight anyway? You'd cover 50 miles in that time. Doing circles around the Salt Flats? You'd be doing huge circles going at that speed if at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 This is too complicated. The fact that you have different regimes (switches from normal to drag mode etc) and the fact that it sips more than 30l/100 shows that the engineers wanted it polyvalent(sp?) but it's not really user-friendly. Feels approximative to me. Signature soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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