What would the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance be without a special edition of a limited edition Bugatti Veyron? Well, to satisfy us all, for 2012 the maker of the world’s fastest supercar unveiled the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse SE.
Before we all get too excited though, be aware that Bugatti’s version of a ‘special edition’ usually amounts to a new colour scheme. That’s exactly what the company has done here, although the fact that the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is the fastest and most powerful roadster ever released to the public and costs around US$2.3 million (roughly R18 million), is impressive enough already.
The Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse SE pays a tribute to the 1928 Bugatti Type 37A, a car that racked up considerable number of race victories in its day, with a copy of the historic racer’s colour scheme. An off-white ‘Bianco’ hue is used on the Vitesse’s upper bodywork, including the roof and air intakes, while the lower body panels, as well as the inner surfaces of the wheel rims and the underside of the rear spoiler, are painted in ‘New Light Blue’.
The interior remains a ‘standard’ Grand Sport affair, however, that still means exotic materials like carbon fibre, aluminum and magnesium, adorn the cabin. Leather covers just about everything else, which in the case of the SE is a cognac colour.
There’s been no need for Bugatti to fettle beneath the bonnet of the Vitesse SE. With 882 kW (1 200 HP) and 1 500 Nm of torque, the quad-turbocharged, 8.0-litre, W16 engine is already capable of rocketing the Vitesse from 0 – 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 410 km/h.
The original Bugatti Type 37A was also on display along side the Vitesse SE. The classic race car is owned by US comedian and car fanatic Jay Leno.
