This is a tale of two Veyrons: the original, 1001-hp Veyron 16.4 and Grand Sport were created by Ferdinand Piëch to reclaim his Le Means Mulsanne-Straight top-speed record from Peugeot. But in addition to breaking the 407 km/h record, the chairman of Volkswagen would do it in a luxurious street car.
Then, there was a SECOND Veyron. The 1200-hp models used a completely new carbon tub, new body panels, and had completely different suspension and steering tuning. The Super Sport and the Grand Sport Vitesse look like the original 1001-hp Veyron EB 16.4, until you start comparing them closely. They're actually different cars.
The 1200-hp cars drive more like Lotuses than Veyrons - with great steering, willing handling, and of course, obscene power.
This video is a gorgeous, moving Wikipedia entry on the Veyron, quickly discussing Ettore Bugatti's OCD, his Molsheim castle, Ferdinand Porsche's grandson Ferdinand Piëch, who wanted the Porsche 917's top-speed record back, and insider information Cammisa gleaned from his time with Bugatti engineers - including a story of how the first 1200-hp test car accelerated so quickly that it exploded its A/C compressor. And of course, Loris Bicocchi, who tuned both Veyrons, but who was allowed to have a little more fun on the 1200-hp cars.
The car photographed in this video is the 2012 Super Sport 300 - the 300th, and final, fixed-top Veyron ever produced. (There were 150 open-top cars.) Total production for the Super Sport was just 30 units - just 8 for the U.S. market.
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This very special Veyron is currently offered for sale by ISSIMI - please visit issimi.com for more information on this car.
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Bonus footage at the end: Various iPhone videos from Jason Cammisa's personal archive of what the Veyron's quad-turbocharged W-16 sounds like. The four clips were recorded in the convertible Veyrons - the first two in the 1001-hp Veyron Grand Sport, and then two additional ones in a 1200-hp Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. The acceleration videos were recorded on closed roads and runways.
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ISSIMI’s “Spotlight” series gives automotive enthusiasts and collectors an in-depth look at rare, interesting, and important cars. “Spotlight” is an editorial wiki video that, first and foremost, provides context, answering the question “why is this car important?”
With his trademark balance of insight and comedy, automotive journalist Jason Cammisa combines the facts with editorial insight, allowing the audience to walk away with a cursory understanding of each featured car. Wherever possible, Spotlight will include driving footage and acceleration footage with high-quality audio to provide a first-person experience of sight, sound, and motion that words alone never could.
ISSIMI is an enthusiast-owned, full-service specialist offering sales, consignment, collection management, service, and consulting to discerning enthusiasts and collectors. Specializing in complex transactions that include international services for exceptional cars, ISSIMI’s San Francisco Bay Area and Europe-based teams of experts pride themselves on transparency and knowledge. ISSIMI also produces enthusiast editorial media, including “Spotlight,” “Jason Cammisa on the Icons,” “The Carmudgeon Show,” and “Proper Care & Feeding of Cars.” Some of the vehicles featured in these editorial products, including the subjects in this Spotlight video, may be listed for sale through ISSIMI’s platform.
Please see ISSIMI.com for more information.
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