Press release6/10/2013

The “Bugatti Performance Week” in London proudly presents the two fastest production sports cars in the world

Molsheim

Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Karl Piëch was the driving force behind one of the most audacious automotive projects in history: the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. Today, on April 17, we celebrate the birthday of this remarkable visionary.

With the Veyron, Ferdinand Karl Piëch made his ambition clear: deliver the extraordinary, the unsurpassed, the ultimate.

In 1997, while on a train between Tokyo and Nagoya, Ferdinand K. Piëch sketched an idea on the back of an envelope – a vision that would lay the foundation for the legendary W16 and ultimately change the automotive world.

As in previous Bugatti models, the Tourbillon's engine is always visible and is a work of art in its own right.

The naturally aspirated V16 engine alone produces 1,000 HP at 9,000 rpm and delivers 900 Nm of torque.

The 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 engine is a completely new innovation and has been specifically designed to meet the extreme requirements of Bugatti's new hyper sports car.

The new mechanical powertrain of the Tourbillon is unique in the automotive world with a length of almost one meter.

The plenum, a critical component in any naturally aspirated engine, became a key point of the design process as Bugatti worked to achieve the perfect balance between performance and aesthetics.

The new mechanical heart of the Bugatti Tourbillon is handcrafted by the world-renowned engine specialists at Cosworth.

Episode 7 of ‘A New Era’ takes viewers through a significant milestone in the development of Bugatti's new V16 engine.

Countless test-runs on Cosworth's engine dynos helped the team to better understand the performance characteristics, sound quality, and overall behavior of the new engine.

Unlike conventional early-stage testing, which often begins with the construction of a single-cylinder prototype engine, Bugatti took a more ambitious approach and built an initial test engine with four cylinders.

Marco Arnoletti, Powertrain Chief Engineer at Bugatti Rimac, and Emilio Scervo, CTO of Bugatti Rimac, reflect on the history of the new naturally aspirated V16 engine.

Excellence through continuous learning. Ongoing technical training ensures every Bugatti Service Partner upholds the marque’s exacting standards.

Service Partners together with the Bugatti team in front of the Château Saint-Jean, Molsheim. A moment of pride and tradition as the service teams gather at the historic home of Bugatti for the Bugatti Customer Service Accreditation Training.

Sharing the Bugatti ethos. Dedication to craftsmanship, innovation, and attention to detail — the foundation of every Bugatti service interaction.

Hendrik Malinowksi, Managing Director at Bugatti, exchanging ideas at Château Saint-Jean during the welcoming in the Château Saint-Jean. Celebrating collaboration and commitment to continuous improvement in aftersales service.

BUGATTI Greenwich – Regional Service Partner of the Year. Recognized for outstanding service delivery and commitment to Bugatti’s core values in North America.

Bugatti Vienna – Most Improved Service Partner of 2024. A team driven by excellence, pictured with one of Bugatti's engineering masterpieces, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition.

The Bugatti Service Excellence Award 2024 – A symbol of precision, dedication, and the pursuit of perfection, awarded only to those who meet the highest standards of service.

Alexis Ploix, Director of After Sales and Customer Service, introducing the attendees to the home of the marque. Sharing insights and strategy to uphold the unmatched customer service experience.

Bugatti UAE – Global Service Partner of the Year 2024. Honored with the top accolade for setting the benchmark in customer service and operational excellence worldwide.

Power is in the small details. Hands-on expertise reflects the commitment to delivering a customer experience that’s as refined as the vehicles themselves.

Bugatti Zurich – Regional Service Partner of the Year, celebrating exceptional performance and customer service excellence in the European region.

Frank Heyl, Director of Design at Bugatti, and Jan Schmid, Chief Designer Exterior and Head of the Berlin Studio.

The new Bugatti Design Studio in Berlin is a creative space that fosters and inspires the talents of designers.

Exterior design, color and trim, and 3D modeling are the main disciplines of the Berlin design team.

Bugatti designers are using cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality to develop the next generation of hyper sports cars.

Bugatti customers and designers have access to a virtually unlimited range of colors.

The new Bugatti Design Studio in the listed E-Werk building pays homage to the long tradition that has shaped Bugatti for more than 115 years.

A 1,100 square-meter studio was created in an industrial building of purist beauty that has stood the test of time and still reflects this today.

The new Bugatti Design Studio in Berlin connects tradition with innovation and modernity.

The four concept studies – EB 118, EB 218, EB 18/3 Chiron and EB 18/4 Veyron –immortalised in 2000 in the historic gardens of Herrenhäuser near Hanover.

The EB 118, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1998 and marks the first milestone on the path to the Bugatti Veyron 16.4.

The Art Deco-inspired interior of the EB 218 set new standards in luxury, comfort, and craftsmanship.

Unveiled in September 1999, the EB 18/3 Chiron embodied Bugatti's first vision of a modern super sports car.

Ferdinand Piëch’s vision of a W18 engine became reality. The 555-horsepower all-wheel-drive W18 served as the foundation for all four design studies and could be admired openly from the outside for the first time in the EB 18/3 Chiron.

The EB 18/4 Veyron, presented in Tokyo in 1999, embodied a new stylistic direction under the leadership of Hartmut Warkuß. The design was penned by the young designer Jozef Kabaň.

Each concept was defined by exceptional creativity and unparalleled technical ambition, speaking its own design language – from the Grand Tourer to the luxury sedan, all the way to the mid-engine sports car.

Not only in the exterior of the EB 18/4 Veyron are some features of the later production version of the Veyron 16.4 clearly visible, but the interior also reflects many design elements that would define the final Veyron.

Ferdinand K. Piëch pursued the vision of creating a vehicle capable of reaching 400 km/h – without compromising on comfort, elegance, or usability. The four concept studies served as crucial stepping stones on the path to turning this vision into reality.

100 of {{totalAmount}} images are displayed

Download PDF

French luxury brand Bugatti is hosting an exceptional exhibition taking place in London: From 10–15 June, the “Bugatti Performance Week” will be showcasing both record-breaking vehicles “the fastest production sports cars in the world” together for the first time at Jack Barclay Bugatti in Berkeley Square. July 2010 saw the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport set a new speed record for street-legal production sports cars, with an amazing 431.02 kilometres per hour. Bugatti also secured the title for the fastest open-top production sports car in April 2013, with the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse clocking 408.84 kilometres per hour. Following its world premiere at the Shanghai Motor Show in April, the world’s fastest roadster will now be presented in Europe for the very first time.

In addition to these record-breaking cars, a further four Bugatti supercars will be on show; two 1,001 PS Grand Sport models and another two examples of the 1,200 PS Vitesse.

The Performance Week is being organised by the French luxury brand’s official dealership in London, Jack Barclay Bugatti, which is owned by H.R. Owen. Derek Bennett, General Manager of Jack Barclay Bugatti, is looking forward to the event: “H.R. Owen is proud to operate one of the world’s largest Bugatti dealerships from our Jack Barclay showroom in London, and we are delighted to be able to work with our colleagues at Bugatti to create this Performance Week. This gathering of Bugattis is unique and a true highlight for car enthusiasts.”

One of the guests of the opening of the exhibition in Berkeley Square on Monday was Bugatti’s Pilote Officiel, Pierre-Henri Raphanel, who achieved the world record in the Super Sport in 2010 and was responsible for training pilot Anthony Liu from China for his world record run in the open-top Vitesse last April. “Driving a Bugatti at a world record speed of more than 400 km/h is an experience that I will never forget,” said Raphanel. “A Bugatti is unique in so many respects. The technology alone is impressive, and its performance is simply breathtaking. But what makes it truly special is the fact that, after a world record run, you can take the car for a comfortable and elegant cruise around town and make an excellent impression there as well.”

Information on the vehicles displayed at the Bugatti Performance Week

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, the most powerful version of the Veyron, has been produced at the brand’s headquarters in Molsheim since Autumn 2010. Its power is delivered by an 8-litre W16 engine. This super car’s impressive key figures include 1,200 PS (882 kW), 1,500 Nm maximum torque and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds. To celebrate its world-record run, a limited “World Record Edition” was released with a two-tone colour scheme of black exposed carbon and orange. Just as with the 150 limited-edition Super Sports, this special edition has already been sold out for some time.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, the open-top spin-off of the Super Sport, has been available on the market since Spring 2012. It also offers an 8-litre W16 engine with 1,200 PS. Specifically for its world-record run, the Vitesse was modelled after the recordbreaking Super Sport, receiving a two-tone colour scheme of black and orange both inside and out. Bugatti has also created a World Record Car (WRC) edition of this particular vehicle which is limited to just eight cars, each costing 1.99 million euros (plus tax and transport).

Adding to the excitement, a further two Grand Sport Vitesse supercars will be presented. One of these flaunts a sporty, dynamic look, underlined by a colour scheme of Jaune Soufré (sulphur yellow) and Olive Noir. This striking colour contrast is continued with yellow stitching enhancing the dark Serpent Green of the vehicle’s interior. This car is priced at 1.74 million euros (plus tax and transport). The second Vitesse displays an elegant horizontal colour split, of blue exposed carbon and a light blue paint finished with marine blue accents. Blue exposed carbon is also used in the interior, including in the centre console. The car features a fullleather interior in Bleu Indigo. Contrast stitching and decorative stitching in Sprint Blue offer discreet highlights. This Vitesse is on the market for 1.9 million euros (plus tax and transport).

The two Bugatti Grand Sport supercars in the showroom are equally impressive examples of the sheer diversity of customisation options available from Bugatti. One obvious highlight is the Grand Sport, which had its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show this March: the entire rear, the engine air ducts, the roof trimming, the sill panel trims, the lower part of the front spoiler and the front bonnet of this classic Grand Sport dazzle in a green exposed carbon finish. Correspondingly, the doors, front wings and exterior mirror housing are finished in handpolished aluminium. One of the body’s most striking features is the embossed relief of a dancing elephant just in front of the cold-air duct behind the doors. The elephant is a nod to the art deco-styled radiator mascot designed by Rembrandt Bugatti and used for the six Bugatti Royales built between 1926 and 1933. The elephant relief is milled from one component in an amazing feat of consummate craftsmanship. This particular Grand Sport is priced at 1.915 million euros.

Dynamic and sporty, the second Grand Sport features a Sprint Blue Pearl exterior paint finish, with polished aluminium used for the fuel and oil flaps, air ducts and other details. The interior is outfitted entirely in black leather. This car is on the market for 1.407 million euros (plus tax and transport).