Trends | Cars

You want power and beauty? I’m right here, the 2011 Bugatti Veyron. I’m a German Volkswagen Group designed vehicle and have been in production since 2005 and, oh yeah, right now I’m the world’s fastest street legal sports car (267.85 mph).

Named in honor of French racing driver Pierre Veyron, whose coup de grace was capturing the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1939 while racing an older model Bugatti, I’m an ageless creation and named the Car of the Decade by the BBC television show Top Gear.

Why? Raw power and fluid handling with a look unlike anything on the market. With a price tag of over $1.5 million I’m not a piece of technology or machinery for the faint of heart.

Perhaps the only thing that can outduel my scorching speed is an airplane. But with jets there isn’t much in the way of difference between designs. With me, it’s a distinguishable presentation and price tag.

Here’s an amusing fact: I use the same launch control technology as Formula 1 racing cars to reach maximum traction force from first to seventh gear. Wait, there’s more. My makers call the inner workings of the car a digital network. There is a nervous system constructed for driveline, convenience functions and internal diagnostics. Twenty-six control devices comprise the vehicle from engine regulators to GPS and a lightweight onboard network similar to aviation technology. Might as well, feels like you’re flying most of the time anyway.

If you want to make a statement, er, a colossal impact on your image, I’m for you.

MSRP: $1.7 million
Top speed: 267.85 mph
0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds
Six cylinder, four-wheel drive
Gearbox: 7 Gears
Fuel consumption combined: 24.1l/100km
Fuel consumption in town: 40.4l/100km, fuel consumption out of town: 14.7l/100km
CO2 emission combined: 574g/km
Horsepower: 1,001@ 6,000 rpm (1,200 with super sport model)
Torque: 922 lb-ft @ 2,200 rpm
Wheelbase: 2,710 mm