Primo test al mondo, per la rivista inglese AutoExpress, dal loro sito


The concept was first revealed in 2000, but its 8.0-litre 16-cylinder quad-turbo unit was deemed absurd and its huge performance pointless by critics who also claimed the car was so ambitious it would never work.

Now, we're about to find out the truth, as one of the firm's engineers hands us the two-seater's weighty key, and invites us to take the wheel during one of the last test sessions being held in the US.

Free from the scruffy disguise that's been used to deter photographers in the past, the Veyron is an impressive sight. The detailing is sublime, and every part looks massively oversized to cope with the car's performance, giving it phenomenal road presence.

The engine (which weighs 400kg) is wrapped tightly in the Veyron's aerodynamic aluminium bodywork and spins into life with surprising smoothness. At idle, the W16 formation unit sounds subdued, although a delicate stroke of the throttle reveals it is anything but!

Prodding the accelerator unleashes an avalanche of noise. It has neither the shrillness of a Ferrari F50, nor the harsh note of a Porsche Carrera GT - more of an earthshaking rumble, which grows in intensity with engine speed. Impressive - but it's no preparation for the car's shattering pace.

Two wide, black lines are left in the tarmac as the Veyron launches forward. Our first run suggests the benchmark 0-60mph sprint is barely worth discussing at 2.5 seconds; 0-120mph is passed in 7.5 seconds and 
 
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the car is pulling hard towards 200mph before a lack of space forces us to ease off.

Slowing down, the brakes are not short on power as the engine downshifts smoothly through its six gears. You get the feeling that despite the impressive showing, the Bugatti has only hinted at its true potential.

Our engineer agrees, and finds us more space to test the top speed. Throttle flat to the floor, the car blasts towards the horizon again.

At 220mph, the speedo stops climbing, yet a gauge indicates the unit is delivering only 90 per cent of its full potential. That's because we're at 3,300ft above sea level, where there's simply not enough oxygen to burn all the fuel being gulped by the cylinder heads for the 252mph Bugatti to reach top speed. Yet, travelling nearly as fast as a McLaren F1, the car is stable, due to the adjustable aerodynamics and suspension. Wind and road noise roar through the cabin, but there's still a surreal quality to the serene manner with which the Bugatti covers the ground at such devastating speed.

The steering is extremely direct and the car feels much more forgiving than early rumours of its ferocity suggested.
Clearly, the Veyron is very special. But, at more than £800,000, it's also fantastically expensive, and we had to travel to an American desert to try to exploit its performance to the full! As 70 examples have already been sold, though, there are obviously buyers keen on owning a piece of motoring history.

See the Veyron in action plus view the other videos, on the following link. Video Gallery
Juergen Zoellter

finalmente! cosi anzichè su aria fritta ci scanniamo su una prova molto opinabile

riassuntino?

Non so quanto possa essere attendibile. Tu daresti in prova per la prima votla la tua auto a una rivista che potrebbe cmq criticarla? Non penso

Mi sembra che non dica molto sul comportamento stradale, si punta sempre sul fatto della stabilità a velocità elevata e il valore di velocità massima....

bhè dai un'ottima auto, solo leggermente inferiore alla regina delle categorie riunite, la volkswagen golf.
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tanto per creare un pò di casino

Non sono riusciti ad arrivare alla velocità massima perchè la pista di prova era troppo in quota e mancava ossigeno.... ahhhh sti tedeschi, non pensano mai a tutto

mah, con un turbo non dovrebbe sentirsi tanto la quota 

bhè con un turbo la rarefazione dell'aria in quota dovrebbe diminuire le prestazioni..questa poi non è quadriturbo? quindi diminuz prestazioni * 4 = va come una panda

Quindi la golf rimane l'indiscussa sovrana x' si sà che in alta quota non sente variazioni

Tu con la 500, togliti il cappello prima di parlare della Panda 

< staff: rimosso su richiesta dell'utente >

Si sente molto meno che con un aspirato, ma comunque si sente... poi su un'auto "tutta turbo" come la Veyron...

x claudio: lavati la bocca con il sapone...... come osi fare un paragone tra la mia scatoletta ed il tuo mattone lego bislungo

x losna confermo, non mi ricordo il modello dell'aereo ma il principio applicato era quello

AH AH AH... Bella questa!!!   La "guerra tra i poveri".

Ma  la provano a 1000 metri d'altitudine??