With a top speed of 253 miles per hour, 1,001 horsepower, and a price tag of about $1.5 million, the 2008 Bugatti Veyron is a thing of beauty and wonder. The mid-engine sports car was designed and developed in Germany by the Volkswagen Group. Top Gear named it the car of the decade because of its impressive features and reliability. It gets its name, Veryon, from the racing driver Pierre Veyron, and it is produced in France by French automobile manufacturer Bugatti.
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This two-seater has a stylish cabin assembled by hand, which improves attention to detail. It has special handling modes to account for its staggering speeds. The body of the 2008 Bugatti Veyron is made to improve speed and comfort, and the undercarriage is as smooth as glass to decrease drag. Here, we will take a deep dive into the 2008 Bugatti Veyron.
Range and Engine Specs
The 2008 Bugatti Veyron comes with an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged engine. This is the equivalent of two V-8 engines combined. The cylinders have four valves each, for a total of 64, but only four camshafts are required. Four turbochargers feed the engine and displace 7,993 CCs with a bore and stroke.
The Veyron has seven gear ratios with magnesium paddles behind the steering wheel and has an impressive 150-millisecond shift time. It generates a jaw-dropping 1,001 horsepower and a torque of 922 pound-feet. It is capable of operating fully under a continuous full load, which is impressive for a non-racing car. The engine uses a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox with two clutches, and each has four gears.
Because of its ability to cruise at high speeds, cooling is a crucial aspect of the Veyron. It comes with complex airflow patterns to conduct sufficient cooling air to the radiators. This helps to extract hot air with minimal changes to the vehicle’s design. Two water circuits cool the engine to counter the heat generated by its power. Three coolers are located in the front section with 40 liters of coolant water to keep the engine at operating temperature.
The Veyron has a total of 10 radiators. They include a differential oil radiator, an engine oil radiator, and a transmission oil radiator, and the air conditioner has one as well. There are also three engine radiators and three more heat exchangers for the air-to-liquid intercoolers. They improve the cooling of the engine from the heat produced while cruising at high speeds.
The 2008 Bugatti Veyron’s braking system was the most powerful at the time in the automotive market. The brakes are made of ceramic discs and enable the Veyron to stop from a terminal velocity of 253 mph in just under 10 seconds. A carbon fiber channel redirects inflowing air from the front to the braking system to enable proper functioning and cooling. The wing at the back of the Veyron also assists in braking by increasing the downforce on the rear axle. These braking features allow the Veyron to remain incredibly stable at high speeds and during heavy braking.
The 2008 Bugatti Veyron has a registered top speed of 253 mph. However, a separate key is required to unlock the top speed, and the achievable top speed is limited to 233 mph. It can accelerate to 60 mph in just under three seconds. The fuel tank’s capacity is 28.4 gallons, and the fuel efficiency is 8 mpg in the city and 14 mpg on the highway. The Veyron can drain a full tank of gas at top speed in just 12 minutes.
The gearbox of the Veyron was manufactured using cutting-edge technology and offers a combination of dynamic advantages. It is comprised of an adaptive boost-pressure fuel injection system that ensures optimum atomization to achieve maximum performance with minimum fuel. The fuel tank uses aerospace technology to continually supply fuel in every situation.
The Veyron has a wheelbase of 106.7 inches and a ground clearance of 47.4 inches. The wheels have a pressure sensor and can withstand high speeds. They were built in partnership with Michelin and ensure the vehicle’s suitability for everyday driving. Gear changes are lightning-fast at 150 milliseconds.
The tank has a ventilation system that filters out toxic gasses that result from the outgassing of the fuel. The gasses combine with inlet air from the outside and are channeled to the engine to be burned. The main feed pumps are comprised of fuel filters, rollover valves, relief valves, and secondary flow regulators.
The Exterior
The 2008 Bugatti Veyron’s design sets it apart from other sports cars with unique features. Its aerodynamic shape and style improve its performance and sticks to the historical DNA of the brand. The wing optimizes the braking performance and airflow resistance. It has a large titanium front grille and a unique crest line that runs up the hood and across the roof. The Veyron is low and wide, which enhances stability.
The Interior
The Veyron has a fancy cabin with cool technological features. The seats are heavily bolstered and built on carbon fiber shells to improve comfort. They offer a good amount of lateral grip and reasonable support. The steering wheel is manually adjusting and telescoping. The dash is hand-stitched and has a power gauge that displays horsepower production in real time.
Infotainment features include a custom-designed premium sound system with eight speakers, AM/FM radio, and a CD player. It has a limited cargo space at the front that is smaller than that of its competitors like models from Lamborghini.
Safety Features
The Veyron has front airbags but lacks side curtain airbags. It also has stability and traction control with standard antilock carbon-ceramic disc brakes. The front-end structure consists of an extruded aluminum multi-chamber that is designed to be deformable and ensure the safety of the driver and passenger.
The Veyron has seat belt pretensioners that tighten the seat belts to restrain the occupant in a seated position during a collision. A security feature prevents the engine from starting if the correct original manufacturer key is not used. Also, a standard low tire pressure warning system monitors the tires.
Available Trims
The 2008 Bugatti Veyron is only available in coupe form and has two trim levels: the base model and the Pur Sang model. The base model comes with 20-inch front tires and 21-inch back tires that can run even when flat for a short distance. It also has a navigation system, rear-view mirror display, and hands-free cellphone connectivity. Its entry price stands at $1.5 million.
The Pur Sang model comes with a carbon-fiber exterior that is unpainted. The interior also features a carbon-fiber touch that reduces the weight and increases its beauty. The exterior style is clearly visible when the car is viewed from above. There were a limited number of units produced for this model, and they carry a price tag of $2 million.
Takeaway
The 2008 Bugatti Veyron offers comfort at exhilaratingly high speeds. This million-dollar car has set itself in history as one of the greats in the hypercar category. It guarantees optimum handling at high speeds and great power with a harmonious between lift and downforce. The 2008 Bugatti Veyron is a car that most people can only dream of having because of its price, but its performance has proven it is worth every dime.
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