After the announcement a few weeks earlier, Bugatti has released the the Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse “La Finale” — The final Bugatti Veyron to be produced — at the Geneva Motor Show.
Few words that best put the notion of the importance of this vehicle into anyone introduced to the automotive world. On the other hand, this also means that the technologically advanced vehicle will soon (probably naturally) see a successor. A car that we, as anybody else interested in highly developed technical things that go fast, will definitely be eagerly awaiting.
“The Bugatti Veyron has shown that our engineers are capable of achieving a previously unimagined level of technical excellence, thereby opening up whole new dimensions in the automotive sector,” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S, in a press release. “The Veyron is justifiably at the head of the field.”
“As the most powerful and fastest production supercar in the world, the Veyron is a true benchmark,” continued Dürheimer. “With a world record speed of 431.072 km/h, it has become an icon of longitudinal dynamics.”
When announced, the Bugatti Veyron stunned the world. It represented one of the greatest technical and engineering challenges ever overcome in the automotive history. At the time, Bugatti developers were faced with four key specifications: the car had to transfer more than 1,000 horsepower onto the road, achieve a top speed in excess of 400 km/h, accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds and – the biggest challenge of all – still be suitable for ‘driving to the opera’ in comfort and style. The perfect gentleman’s supercar, if we might add there. Generally, the car was a huge success – even though the company lost money on each sold unit. Nontheless, it was a perfect opportunity to bring back a brand that was once notable for luxury, speed and attraction.
The last Bugatti Veyron marks the end of an era by all means. The future model will probably see some sort of a hybrid coming up. With the timeframe for the release of its successor still a bit blurry, we can only guess on the matter for the time being. On the other hand, we will be able to admire this piece of technological marvel for years to come, thanks to many owners who decided to put their money into owning one of the world’s best fashion and technology statements, providing us petrolheads with something to cherish entirely.
“Alongside the certainty of owning the world’s fastest production sports car with a high degree of individual exclusivity, Bugatti customers appreciate that, by purchasing a Veyron, they become part of the history of an automobile brand that is steeped in tradition,” said the Bugatti President. “Many vehicles therefore find their way into private collections and are purchased as an investment by automotive connoisseurs.”
When it came to equipping the 450 Veyron sports cars, Bugatti did everything to fulfil customers’ wishes. For example, the body finish featuring clear-lacquered exposed carbon fibre was particularly popular. Bugatti currently supplies this finish in eight colours – more than any other manufacturer and in a quality that no other company can achieve. In addition, the French luxury brand offers over 100 different colours for the painted finishes on the carbon fibre bodies. The vehicles also feature a wide range of luxurious materials that were uncommon in the automotive field, such as porcelain, crystal, special types of leather and wood, gold and platinum. Each Bugatti configured by a customer is unique. Including options, the average price of the vehicles recently sold is $2.43 million (€2.3 million).
It goes without saying that Bugatti is already working on the sequel to its recent success story, with development of its next model well underway. “With the next Bugatti model, we are aiming to consolidate and expand the market-leading position we have established with the Veyron,” the Bugatti President explained. “Our challenge is to make the best even better.”
We can only hope it doesn’t mean SUV’s, people carriers and other, somewhat silly ways and paths taken by other high-performance premium manufacturers – ensuring that Bugatti sticks with making statements. Not just cars alltogether.
