When the Bugatti Veyron was launched in 2005, it marked the beginning of a new era in the automotive industry, one that hammered home the point that limits of physics and aerodynamics exist to be pushed. How else do we describe specifications that goes 8.0 liter displacement, four turbochargers, 16-cylinders in ‘W’ configuration, 1001 horsepower, 1250 Nm of torque and 408.47 km/h top speed? Yes, those were the numbers the original Veyron 16.4 boasted when it went on sale in 2005. Ten years, 450 units, 2 body-styles, 4 chassis variants and a host of special editions later, Bugatti is signing off the Veyron in style with the Grand Sport Vitesse ‘La Finale’ edition. Currently on display at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, the last-ever Veyron bearing chassis number 450 is accompanied by the very first Veyron bearing chassis number 1.
As the name suggests, Veyron ‘La Finale’ is based on the Grand Sport Vitesse, a more-powerful roadster variant of the mid-engined hypercar with 1184 horsepower and 1500 Nm of torque. Those staggering specs are good to propel the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 410 km/h.
In what is a nice touch, the ‘La Finale’ draws inspiration from the first Veyron ever built in its choice of colours and yet retains its uniqueness. The front wing panels, doors and the area between the doors and side air intakes are now made of black exposed carbon fiber while the rest of the car comes with a unique red exposed carbon fiber, thus completing the iconic two-tone paint schemes that Veyrons have become synonymous with. In addition, the words ‘La Finale’ are painted in an Italian Red shade below the right front headlight and on the underside of the rear wing, announcing to the world that this is the last of an era. Going with the exterior theme, the interiors are upholstered in beige and red leather with the La Finale lettering adorning the head restraints and the door sill strips.
The final Veyron is already spoken for, capping a successful production run for the brand that spanned 300 coupes and 150 roadsters produced over 10 years.
Speaking on the incredible journey that Bugatti experienced with the Veyron, Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S said, “So far no other carmaker has managed to successfully market a product that stands for unique top-class technical performance and pure luxury in a comparable price/volume range. This is an incredible success for Bugatti. The Veyron is a showcase for technology, design and art - in keeping with the Bugatti brand's values of ‘Art, Forme, Technique.’ With the next Bugatti model, we are aiming to consolidate and expand the market-leading position we have established with the Veyron. Our challenge is to make the best even better.”
While we are already looking forward with bated breath for what’s next from Bugatti, we have to admit that the Veyron will be missed. It indeed marks the end of an era, with most supercars going the hybrid way these days. If not for anything else, we will miss the Veyron just for the superlatives that we associate with it every time we think, speak or write about it. Good bye, Veyron!
No comments:
Post a Comment