[V8] Audi parent content - Bugatti Veyron test drive Sooperfast 250 mph

[Ingo Rautenberg]

Ok, sorry about the possible repost.  I sent this yesterday, but there were some smileys in the e-mail and it apparently got held up at the audifans spam filter or something like that.  Anyhow, about the test drive of this AWD Wundercar...

No, not me (I wish).  Bernd Ostmann of Autoweek in the Oct 3 issue (just came out Friday). Autoweek website still has previous issue info.

All I can say is WOW!  

A few highlights:

Just got the issue and the EB16.4 Veyron is on the cover -- would love to post pics, but since it just came out today it won't be on their website 'til this weekend at the earliest. 

Stats: 987 HP / 0-62 mph in 2.5 sec / top speed 250 mph 
0-186 mph in 16.8 seconds vs 34 sec for the Porsche GT 

Love this: A gauge indicating Horsepower, three driving settings which give the cd 0.39 in standard form, downforce-induced 0.42 in handling mode, and 0.36 in top speed mode 
 
8 liter W16 engine with four turbos.  (hence 16.4 designation)

They expect to sell 50 units a year at $1.2 million per car. 

"This car can't be measured by traditional road-car standards. It's just too powerful, too extreme, too darn fast. Nothing, and we mean nothing, can prepare you for the feeling you experience deep within the pit of your stomach the first time you drive it with real purpose. Comparisons with other road cars do not apply, for there simply is no parallel." from Bernd Ostmann 

Looks like parent VW pulled it off after all.

A few pics

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/2419-4.jpg

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/2419-9.jpg

More comparisons for you from the article: 

"173 mph: Takeoff speed for a Boeing 737 

229.9 mph: F1 Speed record by Antonio Pizzonia in a Williams-BMW at the '04 Italian GP 

240 mph: Top Speed of an Andretti Green Indy Racing League car 

241.428 mph: Closed-course speed record set by Gil de Ferran in his Honda-powered Penske Racing Reynard at California Speedway in 2000 

250 mph: Top speed of the Bugatti Veyron. It goes from standstill to 250 mph in 55 seconds 

11 hours, 9 minutes: Time it would take to get from Los Angeles to New York City @ 250 mph" 

As to that last one -- still need to fuel up on the way, so make that just under 12 hrs including fuel and bathroom breaks.