Bugatti Nearly Released a Veyron with Even Greater Power
Key Highlights:
- A more potent Veyron with 1,341 hp was in development but never launched.
- This model would have been named the MegaWatt Veyron.
- Bugatti postponed the engine upgrade until the arrival of the Chiron.
The Bugatti Veyron, produced over a decade, saw numerous special editions. While the original model offered 987 horsepower, subsequent versions significantly boosted the W16 engine's output. The top-end Super Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse models peaked at an impressive 1,183 hp. Despite this, Bugatti envisioned pushing the power even further.
Frank Heyl, Bugatti's design chief, revealed to Top Gear that a facelifted Veyron was planned as a grand finale for the model. This ultimate edition would have increased the W16’s output to 1,341 horsepower, surpassing the strongest variant by 158 hp.
Dubbed the MegaWatt Veyron, this car aimed to surpass the power milestone set by the Koenigsegg One:1. The Swedish hypercar, launched in 2014, boasted an incredible one megawatt (1,341 hp) of power, just a year before the Veyron’s production ended.
Reason Behind Shelving the More Powerful Veyron
Despite being Ferdinand Piëch’s ambitious project, it was his own vision that complicated further Veyron enhancements. Piëch sought to elevate the Super Sport’s power to 1,479 hp to achieve a top speed of 279 mph (450 km/h).
The Super Sport had reached 267 mph (431 km/h) in 2010 at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien track. However, increasing its speed by 12 mph (19 km/h) required extensive redesign, which proved too challenging. Consequently, Bugatti decided to hold off and channel their efforts into the Chiron, which debuted with the desired 1,479 hp output.
The Chiron later pushed boundaries even further, with the Super Sport variant producing an astonishing 1,578 hp. In 2019, it hit 304 mph (490 km/h) at Ehra-Lessien, although its production version was limited to 273 mph (440 km/h). Similarly, the Veyron Super Sport was restricted to 258 mph (415 km/h) to ensure tire safety.
After the Chiron Super Sport’s record runs, Bugatti announced it would cease chasing speed records. However, under the leadership of CEO Mate Rimac, the brand appears open to new record attempts, possibly aiming for 500 km/h. Achieving 310 mph with the new V16-powered Tourbillon would require specially engineered tires.
Bugatti no longer has access to the Ehra-Lessien facility, meaning any future speed record attempts would need alternate locations. Potential venues include the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds in Florida, where the SSC Tuatara reached 295 mph (474 km/h) in 2022, or a closed highway section in Nevada used by Koenigsegg in 2017. Given Volkswagen’s continued stake in Bugatti, collaborations could facilitate access to suitable tracks.
Motor1’s Perspective: Even without an ultimate version, the Veyron remains a landmark car of its era. Its records and achievements symbolize the peak of internal combustion performance. While the Chiron elevated these benchmarks, none of it would have been possible without Piëch’s unrelenting drive for automotive innovation.
Bugatti recently honored Piëch’s impact with the striking FKP Hommage, and a logical next step would be pushing the Tourbillon to 500 km/h. This would be a fitting tribute to the visionary whose influence shaped the Volkswagen Group’s legacy.
Source: Top Gear
