The automotive world was set ablaze on a Saturday afternoon when Bugatti’s Pilote Officiel Pierre Henri Raphanel strapped into the orange and black Super Sport. Engineers made final checks – tyre pressure, temperature, every system green. As the Super Sport breached the light barrier, the clock started ticking. Within an hour, two runs were needed, south to north and back, with only the driver permitted to touch the car. Tension crackled in the air.
Then, a sound like a jet engine roared closer. Headlights pierced the distance, the Veyron’s shape materialized, a deafening whoosh, and Raphanel blurred past at top speed. The GPS clocked an astonishing 427.933 km/h. The return run pushed even further, hitting 434.211 km/h. Averaging these runs, representatives from “TÜV” and Guinness World Records certified a top speed of 431.072 km/h (268 mph). Even Bugatti’s engineers were taken aback.
“We anticipated an average of 425 km/h,” admitted Bugatti’s chief engineer Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, “but today’s conditions were perfect, allowing us to exceed even our own expectations.” This moment cemented the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport as not just a car, but a record-breaking legend and the ultimate evolution of the Veyron lineage.
From Customer Demand to Record-Breaking Reality
The story of the Super Bugatti Veyron begins with discerning Bugatti clientele. Inspired by Ettore Bugatti’s legacy of enhancing successful models, customers urged the marque to create a second Veyron model that was not only visually distinct but also delivered a more intense and sporty driving experience. Bugatti responded with the Super Sport, a machine boasting a colossal 1,200-hp (882 kW) and 1,500 Newton metres of torque. While production models were electronically limited to 415 km/h to protect the tyres, the underlying engineering mirrored that of the record-setting car. The first five Super Sports off the line, the “World Record Edition,” were built to the exact specification of the land speed record breaker.
The Super Sport represents a significant leap from the original 1,001-hp Bugatti Veyron 16.4 launched in 2005. That model already set benchmarks with its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and exceptional handling and stability. However, Bugatti’s relentless pursuit of performance pushed the Veyron platform further.
Engineering the Extreme: Power and Precision
Constant exploration at the limits of performance allowed Bugatti engineers to refine the Veyron into an even more potent machine. Every modification on the Super Bugatti Veyron was meticulously designed to amplify power and agility. Larger turbochargers and intercoolers were integrated to boost the output of the 16-cylinder engine. The chassis underwent a comprehensive redesign to ensure safety and control at extreme velocities. This included subtly increased main-spring travel, stronger stabilisers, and advanced shock absorbers originally engineered for racing applications.
These enhancements translated to noticeably sharper wheel control and overall vehicle composure. With lateral acceleration reaching 1.4 G and optimized interaction between the tyres and the intelligent all-wheel-drive system, the Super Sport delivered impeccable handling and even more forceful acceleration out of corners thanks to its immense 1,500 Newton metres of torque.
Aerodynamic refinement was paramount. The bodywork was meticulously sculpted to enhance aerodynamic efficiency and maintain perfect equilibrium at all speeds. The all-carbon monocoque structure was further developed for maximum torsional rigidity and passive safety while simultaneously reducing weight. Constructed entirely from carbon-fibre composites, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport was offered with an optional 100-percent clear-lacquered exposed carbon finish, showcasing its advanced materials and construction.
Design as Performance: The Super Sport Aesthetic
Beyond its motorsport-derived technology, every facet of the Super Bugatti Veyron echoes the pioneering spirit of Ettore Bugatti. His artistic background instilled a philosophy of harmonizing mechanical perfection with visual beauty. This ethos remains deeply embedded in Bugatti, and the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is a testament to this, where every external modification serves a performance-enhancing purpose.
The Super Sport’s low-slung, extended silhouette is instantly recognizable. NACA ducts integrated into the roof feed air to the 16-cylinder engine, replacing the scoops found on the standard Veyron. The front air intakes were enlarged and reshaped, with the lower intake elegantly wrapping around to the wheel arches. The rear profile was sharpened with a double diffuser and a centrally positioned exhaust system, further emphasizing its sporting intent.
Bugatti’s tradition of creating super-sport versions of successful models, often incorporating racing chassis and supercharged engines, is evident in the Super Sport. Historically, models like the Type 55 and Type 57S were revered as true racing machines for dedicated Bugatti enthusiasts, with limited production runs of around forty units each.
By the time the Super Sport was announced, Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. had sold 260 Veyrons and 35 Grand Sports, with 249 Veyrons and 22 Grand Sports delivered. Production of the Super Sport commenced in autumn at Molsheim alongside the Veyron and Grand Sport. The initial five “World Record Edition” cars, finished in a distinctive black exposed carbon and orange livery, were already sold, highlighting the immediate demand for this ultimate Veyron.
The public debut of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport took place in California during the Pebble Beach Concours weekend in mid-August, featuring at prestigious events like The Quail, the Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca, and the concept lawn of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This introduction to the world stage solidified the Super Bugatti Veyron’s place as a masterpiece of automotive engineering and design, forever etching its name in the annals of hypercar history.
