Guide: Fitting Finale - a Historical & Technical Appraisal of the Bugatti 16.4 Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
BACKGROUND
Despite a troubled gestation that saw half a decade elapse before the first production car was finally ready, the Bugatti Veyron went on to re-write the rulebook in terms of the performance, luxury and practicality one could expect from a 21st century supercar.
Powered by an eight-litre quad-turbocharged 987bhp W16 engine that could propel it to beyond 250mph, the Veyron established Bugatti as a force to be reckoned with after an initial ill-fated but enormously ambitious attempt to revive the mark under private ownership in the late 1980s / early 1990s.
By contrast, the Veyron’s wickedly expensive development programme was funded by new owners, the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG), who took a no-expense spared approach in order to create the ultimate high end sports car of its day. VAG had acquired Bugatti back in 1998 along with two other luxury auto makers: Lamborghini and Bentley.
Following the heavily delayed but ultimately successful introduction of the Veyron Coupe in 2005, an open top Roadster variant dubbed the Grand Sport followed in 2008. This was in turn followed by an even more powerful version of the Coupe in 2010; the resultant Veyron Super Sport most notably ushered in an all-carbonfibre body with revised aero kit and 1187bhp engine along with an uprated tub, suspension, wheels and gearbox.
Following requests from customers, the final incarnation of the Veyron theme subsequently arrived at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012 when Bugatti unveiled a Roadster version of the Super Sport: the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse.
As the fastest and most powerful production Roadster ever manufactured, the Grand Sport Vitesse was a fitting finale for the Veyron series and established a new high watermark for open top sports cars.
CHASSIS
The Grand Sport Vitesse was based around a standard Veyron tub as opposed to the stiffer and more rigid carbonfibre monocoque with new weave technique used by the Super Sport. However, both versions shared the reinforced A-pillars from the open top Grand Sport.
To reduce plumbing hardware, the rear-differential cooler in the Super Sport (SS) and Grand Sport Vitesse (GSV) was relocated from the passenger-side gill to the rear diffuser.
A 2710mm, the wheelbase was identical to every other Veyron.
Suspension-wise, Bugatti used more progressive spring and damper rates for the SS / GSV along with thicker anti-roll bars.
As normal, double wishbones with coil sprung hydro-electronic three-stage dampers were fitted; the active ride height was adjusted between Standard, Handling and Top Speed mode (covered later).
SGL Carbon cross-drilled and radially-vented carbonfibre reinforced silicon carbide composite discs were imported from the standard Veyron as were the AP Racing aluminium monobloc calipers with their titanium pistons.
The front axle employed 400mm brake discs, eight piston calipers and four brake pads. At the back, 380mm discs were installed with six-piston calipers and two pads per side.
ABS and emergency Brake Assist were fitted as standard.
Instead of the standard Veyron or Super Sport wheels, the Grand Sport Vitesse automatically came with new five double-spoke wheels. Supplied by OZ Racing, they retained the same 10 x 20-inch front and 14 x 20-inch dimensions as the regular Veyron.
Giant Michelin run-flat tyres were fitted (P265/680ZR-500A up front and 365/710ZR-540A at the rear) along with a continuous pressure monitoring system.
A variable assistance power-steering system was lifted from the base Veyron along with that car’s 100-litre fuel tank located in a cavity at the back of the monocoque. However, fuel pressure was increased and the Super Sport / Grand Sport Vitesse both came with four instead of two in-tank fuel pumps.
ENGINE / TRANSMISSION
In terms of the power unit and transmission, the Grand Sport Vitesse was identical to the Super Sport for which Bugatti had managed to squeeze some extra juice out the Veyron’s W16 engine by fitting bigger turbos and intercoolers along with a less restrictive dual instead of single-exit thin-wall exhaust.
As a consequence of these updates, peak output was 1183.5bhp at 6400rpm and 1106lb-ft at 3000-5000rpm. For comparison, the standard Veyron pumped out 987bhp at 6000rpm and 922lb-ft at 2200-5500rpm.
The rest of the W16 engine’s specification was left alone.
Essentially a pair of slender four-litre V8s that shared the same crankshaft, the mid longitudinally-mounted, all-alloy unit featured dry-sump lubrication, dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder.
It displaced 7993cc thanks to an 86mm bore and stroke and was cooled by nine radiators: three air-to-liquid intercoolers, three engine radiators and one each for the transmission oil, differential oil and engine oil. A tenth radiator served the air-conditioning system.
Compression was set at 9.0:1 and engine management was courtesy of Bugatti’s own system developed in-house.
The Ricardo-supplied seven-speed direct-shift dual-clutch gearbox used in the SS / GSV drove beefier prop shafts through a reinforced second and third gear and a taller seventh gear, but was otherwise unchanged.
Gears were shifted either by F1-style paddles behind the steering wheel or a fully automated system. The dual-clutch set-up meant there was very little interruption in power flow. Gear shifts took just 150 milliseconds.
Transmission was via an electronically-controlled permanent four-wheel drive system that distributed the torque through a front differential with Haldex coupling and a regulated limited-slip differential at the rear. In normal conditions, 30% of the power was sent to the front wheels and 70% to the rear. However, up to 100% could be sent to either axle if required.
Like the standard Veyron, the Super Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse also came with an ASR traction control system, ESP electronic stability control and a launch control facility. The launch control was employed by pressing a button on the centre console, applying the footbrake, flooring the throttle and then quickly releasing the footbrake.
BODYWORK
Whereas the base Veyron and Grand Sport used a mix of aluminium and carbonfibre exterior panels, the Super Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse were built with all-carbonfibre bodies.
Additionally, with the exception of its low drag NACA-ducted tunnelled roof (replaced by standard Veyron snorkel-type intakes and a specially developed roof spoiler), practically all the uprated body parts from Super Sport were carried over to the Grand Sport Vitesse.
The list of enhanced equipment included a revised front apron assembly that featured bigger single-blade main intakes underneath which was a shallow full width duct that elegantly wrapped around the sides to the wheelarches. Powerful Grand Sport / Super Sport headlights were fitted above SS-style cooling slots that fed fresh air to the brakes.
At the back, Bugatti modified the SS / GSV central fascia with larger, re-shaped meshed cooling vents. As per the front of the car, there was also a new apron along with an F1-style double diffuser and the aforementioned dual outlet exhaust system.
Polished aluminium strips ran from the base of the A-pillar to the back of the car and were adjoined underneath an enlarged licence plate plinth.
The SS / GSV’s active rear spoiler was reprogrammed to deploy into the airflow at 122mph as opposed to 137mph.
INTERIOR
Aside from Vitesse script embossed onto the headrests and sidewalls of the transmission tunnel, a re-calibrated engine output gauge that now read to 1200 PS and visible carbonfibre primary door inlays, the Grand Sport Vitesse was much the same as any other Veyron inside.
Behind the three-spoke steering wheel with its magnesium alloy paddle shifters and control stalks was a curved binnacle with five analogue instruments. In the centre was a large 8000rpm tachometer. To the left was the recalibrated medium-size engine output gauge. Above this was a small oil temperature read out. To the right of the rev counter was a mid-size 280mph / 430kmh speedometer with a small fuel gauge above. The three larger gauges also housed digital read outs and an array of warning lights.
The sloping body matched centre console was home to an analogue clock, two fresh air vents, a hazard warning light switch, a Burmester audio system, the climate controls and the gear lever. Alongside the gear lever were switches for the heated seats, launch control, Handling Mode activation and engine starting.
OPTIONS
As a consequence of its all carbonfibre outer panels, Bugatti offered the Grand Sport Vitesse (like the Super Sport) with a new fully lacquered visible carbonfibre finish. At a 20% premium over list price, it was probably the most expensive optional extra of all time.
Buyers could also request a gas cap personalised with their own initials (instead of the Ettore Bugatti logo).
Other cost upgrades included a choice of wheels, two-tone paint, quilted leather for the seat inserts and transmission tunnel, contrast stitching, brake calipers in a choice of colours, Pierre Veyron or Ettore Bugatti signature script and customised door sill plates.
Further, more extensive customisation could be carried out at special request.
WEIGHT / PERFORMANCE
At a quoted 1990kg the Grand Sport Vitesse tipped the scales at the same weight as a base Grand Sport.
0-62mph was a tenth of a second quicker (2.6 as opposed to 2.7 seconds).
Although electronically limited to 233mph, in un-restricted form the Grand Sport Vitesse was capable of 253mph.
LE CIEL CALIFONIEN
Following its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Bugatti commissioned a one-off Grand Sport Vitesse for the model’s US debut set to take place at the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance festivities in August.
Wearing a white over light blue colour scheme inspired by the 1928 Type 37A raced by Pierre Veyron, the car’s interior was trimmed in a mix of cognac leather, Bugatti Light Blue Sport stitching and blue visible carbonfibre. The wheels were a mix of polished aluminium with light blue inlays.
Following its promotional duties in the USA, the vehicle’s first private owner commissioned Bugatti to add Le Ciel Californien script on the doors back at the factory. The car then went on to appear at the Paris Motor Show in September before it returned to the Unites States.
WORLD RECORD CAR EDITION
At the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2013, Bugatti publicly unveiled a special edition Grand Sport Vitesse in recognition of the model’s top speed record set at the VW Group’s Ehra-Lessien test track by Chinese racing driver Anthony Lie earlier in the month. Lie’s best run of 408.84kmh (254.04mph) established a new standard for open-top production sports cars.
Like the example used at Ehra-Lessien, the World Record Car Edition sold to customers featured black visible carbonfibre bodywork with orange front fender treatment that tapered off at the end of the door line. Matching orange accents were also applied to the rear venturis, the underside of the rear spoiler, the Vitesse script on the cam covers and the EB-branded fuel and oil filler caps. The wheels were finished to match.
Inside, predominantly black upholstery was brightened up with orange headrests and outer bolsters for the seats, orange stitching, orange Vitesse centre console sidewall script, orange door pocket inlays, orange door handle recesses and orange seatbelts. Vitesse WRC Edition 1 of 8 script appeared on the visible carbonfibre door sill plates.
Eight cars were to be built with each priced at €1.99m before local taxes.
LEGEND SERIES
In July 2013, Bugatti announced that the forthcoming Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance festivities would mark the public debut of a new batch of ultra high end, ultra low volume Veyron GSVs to commemorate some of the renowned individuals and vehicles that had played a crucial role in shaping the marque’s history.
The ‘Les Legendes de Bugatti’ series would see six batches of three cars introduced at major motor shows during the twelve months that followed.
Features seen on every Legend edition included fuel and oil filler caps engraved with the Legend’s laser-etched signature, door sill strips adorned with each Legend’s likeness and signature, and centre console sidewall trim panels that sported the Les Legendes de Bugatti script along with Bugatti’s famous dancing elephant mascot.
LEGEND JEAN-PIERRE WIMILLE
The first Grand Sport Vitesse Legend to appear was the Jean-Pierre Wimille edition unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance in August 2013.
Jean-Pierre Wimille was a factory Bugatti racing driver who, in addition to a litany of Grand Prix victories, famously won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1937 (driving a Bugatti 57G with Robert Benoist) and again in 1939 (this time with Pierre Veyron at the wheel of a 57C).
The Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille was an homage to the ‘37 and ‘39 Le Mans winners. Externally it featured a two-tone colour scheme with a mix of blue visible carbonfibre and light blue paintwork (the latter dubbed Wimille Bleu). Painted silver underneath the rear spoiler was an outline of the historic Le Mans racing course from the late 1930s.
The two-tone blue theme continued to the interior where special features included patriotic red, white and blue stitching for the steering wheel and gear lever, blue visible carbon door panels, a blue visible carbon centre box cover inlaid with a milled and polished outline of the Le Mans circuit and headrests with embroidered with Jean-Pierre Wimille’s signature.
No price was originally quoted.
LEGEND JEAN BUGATTI
The second offering to appear in the Grand Sport Vitesse Legend series came a few weeks later when the Jean Bugatti edition was presented at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Gianoberto Carlo Rembrandt Ettore Bugatti, better known as Jean, was the oldest son of company founder, Ettore Bugatti, and a renowned automotive designer. Before his tragic death at age 30 (while out on test in the 1939 Le Mans winning 57C), Jean Bugatti had already styled an array of Bugatti models, the most highly regarded of which was undoubtedly the 57SC Atlantic.
Accordingly, the Grand Sport Vitesse Jean Bugatti edition was a celebration of Ettore’s first son and his most famous creation: the 57SC Atlantic.
The body was constructed entirely from Jet Black visible carbonfibre and black diamond-cut wheels were finished to match. To this, Bugatti added a horseshore front grille, an EB tail fascia logo and EB steering wheel logo all fashioned from platinum.
Inside, upholstery was a mix of Chocolate Brown and Light Beige Silk. Unique features included 57SC-inspired artwork on the door panels and centre box cover along with a rosewood gear lever.
The price was €2.28m before local taxes.
LEGEND MEO CONSTANTINI
The third iteration of the Legend series was dedicated to ex-Bugatti works driver and later head of Bugatti’s racing team, Bartolomeo ‘Meo’ Costantini.
As a factory driver during 1925 and ‘26, Constantini most famously won back-to-back editions of the Targa Florio driving a Bugatti Type 35. Shortly afterwards, he ended his competitive driving career in order to manage the Bugatti racing team, a post which he held from 1927 to 1935. Costantini was a close friend of Ettore Bugatti and stayed at the firm until 1937.
The Meo Constantini edition of the Grand Sport Vitesse Legend series made its salon debut at the Dubai Motor Show in November 2013. It featured a Type 35-inspired livery with various body parts fashioned from highly polished aluminium and the remainder painted Bugatti Dark Blue Sport. Underneath the rear spoiler was a silhouette of the historic Targa Florio course painted in Bugatti Dark Blue Sport.
Inside, the bi-colour interior was a mix of Gaucho cognac and Lake Blue leather with Bugatti Light Blue Sport stitch.
The headrests were embroidered with Meo Costantini’s signature, the door panels featured Targa Florio-inspired artwork and the blue visible carbon centre box cover was inlaid with a milled and polished outline of the Targa Florio circuit. The door pocket inlays and door handle recesses were finished in Bugatti Light Blue Sport.
The price was €2.09m before local taxes.
LEGEND REMBRANDT BUGATTI
Number four in the Grand Sport Vitesse Legend series was created to honour Rembrandt Bugatti who was the brother of company founder Ettore and one of the most important sculptors of the early 20th century.
Best known for his animal sculptures, most of which were cast in bronze, one of Rembrandt Bugatti’s most significant works was the dancing elephant that adorned the radiator of the epic Type 41 Royale and came to symbolise the Bugatti brand.
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014, the Legend Rembrandt Bugatti came with a two-tone exterior colour scheme that mixed Bronze visible carbon over lighter brown lower sections. Platinum was used for the front grille and rear EB emblem. The wheels were finished in a mix of dark brown Firefinch and light brown Noix.
Inside, light brown was the dominant colour. Special features included braided leather door panels in gently contrasting shades of brown and a Bronze visible carbon centre box cover inlaid with a bronze casting of Rembrandt Bugatti’s dancing elephant.
The price was €2.18 million before local taxes.
LEGEND BLACK BESS
Bugatti’s penultimate offering in the Grand Sport Vitesse Legend series was built in recognition of the legendary Type 18 chassis 474 which was supplied to renowned aviator and sportsman, Roland Garros, in 1913.
Dubbed ‘Black Bess’ on account of its black and gold colour scheme, chassis 474 was among the fastest cars of its day; power came from a five-litre inline four with single overhead cam and three valves per cylinder while transmission was through a four-speed gearbox with twin chain drive.
Publicly unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show in April 2014, this latest Grand Sport Vitesse featured a colour scheme inspired by ‘Black Bess’ with its black exterior complemented by gold accents for the horseshoe front grille, EB logo at the rear, wheel centre caps (that also bore Ettore Bugatti’s signature) and a series of elegant stripes that started below the headlights and which radiated out over the front wings towards the rear, before tapering off at the end of the door line.
The interior was a mix of light Beige and Havanna with the steering wheel, dash, outer seat bolster stitching and seat belts finished in Crimson.
The door panels depicted Bugatti’s Type 18 ‘Black Bess’ along with the Morane Saulnier Type H airplane owned by Roland Garros at the time. ‘Black Bess’ also featured in the leather covered centre box along with a gold EB logo. All this artwork was hand-painted directly onto the leather using a special new ink and impregnation process.
Each ‘Black Bess’ was priced at €2.15 million before local taxes.
LEGEND ETTORE BUGATTI
Twelve months after the first Grand Sport Vitesse-based Legend special edition was displayed, Bugatti unveiled final iteration of the series at the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance in August 2014 where all six variants were publicly displayed for the first and only time.
Fittingly, this last Legend was built in honour of founder and patron of the Bugatti brand, Ettore Bugatti.
Its specification was inspired by the Type 41 Royale, the most powerful and luxurious car of its time, which used an unrivalled 12.76-litre overhead cam straight eight with around 300bhp. Ettore Bugatti had planned to build a limited run of 25 Royales, but owing to poor trading conditions caused by the Great Depression, only seven were completed between 1927 and ‘33.
The Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Legend Ettore Bugatti was configured with a mix of aluminium and blue visible carbonfibre for the bodywork with the car’s horseshoe grille and EB tail script finished in platinum. A unique set of two-tone wheels harked back to the pioneering aluminium design used by the phenomenally successful Type 35 racing car.
For the leather upholstery, Bugatti used a mix of calf and natural cordovan leather. A platinum version of Rembrandt Bugatti’s dancing elephant was added to the rear centre box which was itself finished in blue visible carbonfibre to match the door panels.
At €2.35m before local taxes, this was the most expensive of the six Legend variants.
END OF PRODUCTION - LA FINALE
In total, 92 examples of the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse were completed between 2012 and 2015, all of which were left-hand drive.
At the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015, Bugatti presented the last Veyron to roll off the production line: a Grand Sport Vitesse dubbed La Finale. Inspiration for this, the 450th Veyron made, came from the first Veyron (chassis 001) produced all the way back in 2005.
The specification comprised was a body in black and red visible carbonfibre with La Finale script in Italian Racing Red under the right front headlight and the rear spoiler. The air scoops and intercooler cover located above the engine were painted black. Both the fuel and oil filler caps featured Rembrandt Bugatti’s dancing elephant fashioned from black anodised milled aluminium. A similar treatment was applied to the wheel caps.
Inside, the cockpit was upholstered in a combination of two-tone Silk light beige and Hot Spur red with Silk beige stitching. La Finale script was added to the headrests and black visible carbonfibre door sill strips. Located on the red visible carbonfibre centre box was a Bugatti elephant cast in bronze and given a black patina. Underneath this appeared the lettering ‘450/450’.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Bugatti - https://www.bugatti.com
