Tuner Takes on the Bugatti Veyron

Agent009 submitted on 10/19/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 1:02 PM
from: www.autoblog.com

[76] user comments | category: Misc News

Tags: Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

Enormous sums of money went into the development of the epically fast and extraordinarily powerful Bugatti Veyron. The engineers managed to squeeze out a thousand horses from eight liters, sixteen cylinders, sixty-four valves and four turbochargers. But someone out there thinks there's still more power to be tapped, and that someone is Hennessey.

Hennessey Performance is the monster tuning house that specializes in giving more venom to the Dodge Viper, a car with an engine displacement slightly larger than the Bugatti's, but in stock form, only manages to produce half as much power. So while the Viper is a monstrously fast car, there was plenty more power to be massaged out of its enormous V10, and Hennessey has managed to crank it up past 900 horsepower. But the Bugatti's powerplant is a different story entirely, already the most powerful engine in production.

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/19/2006 1:16:06 PM

+2 Boost

Lets See

VW spends Many Millions of Dollars & ManHours in R&D and comes out with a Vehicle Soo Complicated it makes the Space Shuttle Seem like a Steam Train.

Then some Buyer who Shells Out Over $1,000,000 for this Masterpeice will drop off his Treasure with a Tuner who is Infamous for Selling Parts off his clients' vehicles to fund his other projects.

Even if he was not Notorious for Pillaging parts, how could a tuner with Experience on Simple PushRod Engines (Vipers & Corvettes) think he would do the Mods on a Veyron ??

I Call B***S*** on this Story

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njshift - 10/19/2006 1:34:33 PM

+1 Boost

What's so hard to believe? All Hennessey is actually doing is creating a new exhaust system for the veyron. Bypassing emmissions to create more horsepower isn't all that complicated especially on a turbo car.

Mark - 10/19/2006 2:20:25 PM

+1 Boost

njshift - Are you for real? You think it's just that easy to modify the entire output of a 1000+ bhp car? Lord knows how complicated the timing and computer modifications will be.

This isn't Bob's Exhaust Shack for your '98 Chevy...

Spring time will come and he'll have nothing to show.

njshift - 10/20/2006 7:47:24 AM

+1 Boost

Changing the exhaust flow after the turbo does not mess with timing newbie. The same rules apply to 1000+hp turbo vipers and supras. Less restriction equals more power. Remove the catylist, make less bends, increase exhaust diameter... The physics don't change from car to car. I never said I agreed with Hennessey, all I said was it wasn't hard to believe.

Mark - 10/20/2006 1:56:15 PM

0 Boost

This guy isn't going to just pay for a bolt on exhaust njshit, he's going to want to flop it all on the table.

Mark - 10/20/2006 1:56:46 PM

0 Boost

newbie....ha, that's good.

njshift - 10/21/2006 7:37:32 AM

+1 Boost

You obviously did not read the article noob. Here's the quote..

The company's head honcho, John Hennessey, in correspondence with Autoblog, tells us an American client approached him with the daunting task of improving on his Veyron with a custom exhaust system "to improve the power and sound along with possibly saving some weight".

It's just a full exhaust system according to the article.

Mark - 10/21/2006 1:39:49 PM

+1 Boost

Thank you master for setting me straight......

njshift - 10/21/2006 3:43:42 PM

+1 Boost

Anytime noob.

njshift - 10/19/2006 1:19:33 PM

+1 Boost

Of course in stock form the viper only produces half the veyrons power. Whether or not the viper has slightly more engine displacement it still doesn't have four turbos attached to its exhaust manifolds...

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BMW4DH - 10/19/2006 1:42:54 PM

+2 Boost

Anyone who owns a 1000hp Veyron exotic would be a fool to let Hennessey attempt to mod an exhaust for minimal gains. The car is ~ 1.5 million dollars and to let a thief like Hennessey attempt an aftermarket mod is unthinkable...I question both the article, Hennessey, and the owners motive. VW has spent countless hours on this vehicle. Maybe we can expect to see some Veyron parts for sale on ebay later that year.

Pathetic...

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golfer38 - 10/19/2006 2:04:44 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I agree. What the heck is this owner thinking, if its true? As it has been already said, this is a work of art not a clay block for some inexperienced tuner (w/ a 16 cyl motor) to ruin.

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/19/2006 3:30:17 PM

0 Boost

Don't be Stupid (Too Late For You)

Do you think the Veyron is some NSX / Supra with Off The Shelf Parts tuned up to perform better than other generic vehicles ?? (Thus Huge Honda/Toyota Profits)

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kart1 - 10/19/2006 3:53:50 PM

+1 Boost

How much are you willing to bet??? ;)

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NARunner - 10/19/2006 4:29:07 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

ricemaster,

once again you prove your ignorance and stupidity...vw is losing big bucks from the veyron...they spent about $3 bil on R&D developing this car so it could perform to expectation...in fact with R&D costs calculated in, the cost per veyron to VW is estimated at a shy under $10,000,000...so with a selling price of around $1.4 mil, you do the math dumbass.

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Agent009 - 10/19/2006 4:47:14 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

VW has always stated thet were not going to make money on the Veyron. It is an exercise for them.

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Jacob - 10/19/2006 4:01:16 PM

+2 Boost

I agree it is not god. However Im no VAG fan, but this is the best car ever made.

It is stupid to let some hot-shot tuner company do anything to an already-superb machine. What is there to modify that he is unhappy with? Nothing.

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Terminal10 - 10/19/2006 4:09:08 PM

+2 Boost

This car is a magnificent piece of engineering but its looks are somewhat questionable. As For having a tuner tinker with it I say NO WAY.

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theman - 10/19/2006 5:11:36 PM

+3 Boost

Tune your Supra, and I say okay..
Tune your Infiniti, and ill let that pass..
Tune your Merc/BMW, and you will have hard time of convincing me..
Tune your Bentley/Aston, and I will say NO..
Tune your Bugatti, and I am gonna punch you in your face..

Leave the masterpiece, a masterpiece..

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sexylexy460 - 10/19/2006 6:10:55 PM

+3 Boost

thman

u hit the nail on the head

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/19/2006 6:55:59 PM

+2 Boost

theman

PERFECTY SAID

OBSERVER1984 - 10/19/2006 6:20:12 PM

+1 Boost

This power of Veyron is useful, more power, more useful car!

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chewy - 10/19/2006 6:45:25 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Hennesey has a horendous reputation of taking your money and not doing anything and selling of parts of your expensive car.

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skoobasam - 10/19/2006 7:49:28 PM

+1 Boost

This car seriously doesn't need any tune-up. By far the craziest car I got to drive.

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matt635 - 10/19/2006 8:08:16 PM

+1 Boost

Let's not get too carried away with the veyrons technology. Yes it's 1000+ bhp. but the same principles of internal combustion and forced induction still apply. The reason why they achieved 4 figure output is not because they super-tuned an existing engine beyond all limits - it's becasue they got an engine twice as big as most other cars - i'd guess they went for the "more combustion = more power" approach, rather than "better combustion = more power".
As far as I know there isn't much 'radical' about the veyrons engine, theres just alot more of it!

In an F1 car, a 2.4l V8 can rev to 20,000rpm and produce 800hp+ without turbos, because of the 'quality' of the engine. If the veyron's engine was truly a no-holds barred technological masterpiece, it would be able to deliver more than 125bhp/litre (200bhp/litre would be amazing).

It strikes me though, the easiest way to make the veyron go faster would be to strip it out. It is about three quarters of a tonne heavier than a mclaren F1, and has a less 'efficient' engine (a lower bhp/litre figure)than an FXX... if somebody just wanted to make there Veyron go faster.. weight loss would definatly be the way to go.

I'm not saying it's right to do it, or that hennessey are the people to try. I'm just saying it is possible to improve the veyron.

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matt635 - 10/19/2006 8:10:18 PM

+1 Boost

--- i meant to say "a MARGINALLY less 'efficent' engine than an FXX

njshift - 10/20/2006 7:53:56 AM

+1 Boost

MDalle, the stock Viper transmission is exceptionally strong. I do agree the clutch will be a beast as you said but the trans is not going to be replaced as much as you think.

nphas042 - 10/20/2006 11:09:14 AM

+1 Boost

I think a f1 engine approaches both the combustion concepts. Who watching the Brazillian Grand Prix?

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/20/2006 3:53:40 PM

+1 Boost

Matt635

An F1 Engine needs a Complete Rebuild every 2 Races ( Less Than 200 miles) hell sometimes they do not even last that long.

An FXX Engine needs a service every 5,000 miles and you can only do a Full Bore Start 6 times before changing the Clutch Pack

The Veyron is supposed to be like a regular Road Vehicle so has all the Regular Road Vehicle Properties i.e. Long Range Transmission/Brakes/Engine/...........

There is absolutely no Logic in your comparison above

matt635 - 10/20/2006 4:11:58 PM

+1 Boost

195..

The F1 thing wasn't a comparison - it was to put things in perspective. The Bugatti engine develops lots of horsepower 'cos its really big, with lot's of turbo's !!!! not because it's exceptionally well made... and if it's not exceptionally well made there is always room for improvement. An F1 engine does it because its very well made by very intelligent people with very good machines, very good materials, and very skilled people to look after it.

Also the FXX thing wasn't a comparo either... I was highlighting it to show that the Bugattis 'everyday engine' was nerly as 'efficient' as Ferraris 'road-going' best...... the actual comparo was the weight of the Veyron vs. the Mclaren F1.

BTW... F1 engines complete 2 races, 2 qually sessions 2 Friday practice's and 2 saturday practices - thats alot more than 200 miles.

2JZSoarer - 10/20/2006 12:59:08 AM

0 Boost

All I have to say is a modded Supra would smoke this car.there are some full body,full interior street supras,that are punching out 1,500 hp to the wheels (inline 6 twin turbo).where is the the Veyron now,with it's overrated V16,4 turbo engine!!!(I have supra dyno videos that prove what I'm saying)

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Matthew1 - 10/20/2006 2:13:15 AM

+1 Boost

But the Supra would most probably melt the pistons or catastrophically overheat in a long-distance battle with the Veyron.

Don't be so naive. A Veyron would eat any Supra alive, and as an ownership proposition is a million times greater. I would absolutely believe the numbers you are claiming, as I too have seen horrifically-powerful Supras. However, power of that magnitude is nothing without control and reliability.

And an over-stressed and uncontrollable (no where near as wide or as grippy at high speeds as the Veyron) coupe is no match for the mighty, colossal torque-laden Bugatti.

And if you think a couple of skilled guys fettling with a 90's coupe have the upper-hand over a crack-team of hundreds of engineers, Billions of dollars and years of development, you have been watching too many Fast and the Furious DVDs.

The Veyron OWNS any tuner car in every respect. Denying that is simply ignorant.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/20/2006 3:57:15 PM

0 Boost

Thanks for explaining your state of mind with regards to Automotive Breakthroughs

No Need to Argue with a Simpleton like Yourself

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NARunner - 10/20/2006 5:07:29 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

rice-

once again you are an idiot. i don't see too many ferrari formula cars cruising the streets do you? oh yeah that's because they aren't street legal and do not have to meet national smog, safety, and emissions requirements!!! They have to meet formula spec (ever notice that the f1 cars are all pretty homogenous?) Comparing the two is comparing apples to oranges. To take a 252mph car to the streets take a lot of money.

And the veyron did not bring "prestige" to VW, nor was it supposed to. It is a buzz vehicle and it is meant to create a buzz about the car itself and Bugattib. And VW must have been successful in this goal because we're all here arguing about it, even your dumbass is here throwing in your idiotic 2 cents.

And FYI you were an idiot because you made a claim that VW made a profit on the Veyron, don't try to change the subject because you were embarassed of your stupid claim.

Lucky for the rest of us, you continue to make a fool of yourself!

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Matthew1 - 10/20/2006 4:37:16 AM

+2 Boost

Since when were Toyota's fun to drive?

Personally I wouldn't hire you as a consultant, because you would replace the torquey VW engines with highly-strung Japanese engines with 60Nm of torque, replace the solid 'thunk' of a German door with the inaudible 'tang' of a Toyota door, replace high-speed stability with nervous, twitchy Corolla steering and scrap the project for the world's greatest car and spend the money on a marketing campaign that tells the world how much you love the environment!

Now where's the fun in that?

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/20/2006 4:00:13 PM

0 Boost

Wilco
Don't be Stupid by trying to defend the Indefensible !!!!!!!

There is Nothing Remotely Solid about the Closing Sound of a Toyota Door (Except the Land Cruiser)

IS3andME - 10/20/2006 8:10:53 AM

0 Boost

RiceMaster, is that necessary, really? Keep it to cars, this is not the FHM brag board...

Now on to the Bug. If you think about it the Bug has W-16 and quad turbos, and has 1000 HP. The caddy V-16 has the same amount of HP and I think more torque. The Caddy 7.5 liter V-12 makes 750 HP in conservative tune. And if you think about it, the the 8.3 liter Viper V-10, if it had dual overhead cams and 4-5 valves per cyl., this car would be fully capable of breaking the 1,000 HP limit without a sweat. And all these engines do this without Turbos (or 4 of them)

One thing the Americans know how to do better than anyone else, is make big HP from big displacement engines.

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njshift - 10/20/2006 9:20:31 AM

+1 Boost

You make a good point.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/20/2006 4:45:11 PM

0 Boost

IS3andME

ARE YOU DRUNK ??????? (Take that Back, YOU ARE STUPID)

Cadillac V16 is a CONCEPT (NOT BLOODY REAL)
Cadillac V12 7.5L has 750HP ANOTHER CONCEPT (NOT BLOODY REAL)

Americans know how to make Big Hp from Big displacement engines Do they ??
Viper V10 8.3L From Factory 510hp & 535 lb ft (REAL CAR)
(http://www.dodge.com/pdf/viper/model_info.pdf)

Corvette Z06 V8 7.0L makes 505hp & 470 lb ft (REAL CAR)
(http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette/)

Lets see what the Germans Have Shall We

M5/M6 5.0L V10 makes 507 bhp & 383lb ft (REAL CAR)
(http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications_technical_specs/0,4639,1156_148869295__bs-TQ%253D%253D%2540bb-TTVfTEk%253D%2540bm-TkI5Mg%253D%253D%2540sit-bmwuk,00.html)

CLS 63 AMG 6.2L V8 makes 514bhp & 464lb ft (REAL CAR)
(http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passenger_cars/home/products/amg/cls_63_amg.0007.html)

Now According to my Calculations:
M5/M6 = 101.4 Bhp/L 76.6 lb ft/L NA (Real Engine)
CLS 63 AMG = 82.9 Bhp/L 74.8 lb ft/L NA (Real Engine)
Corvette Z06 = 72.14 Bhp/L 67.14 lb ft/L NA (Real Engine)
Viper SRT 10 = 61.44 Bhp/L 64.45 lb ft/L NA (Real Engine)

So from now on please keep the BULL SHIT to yourself

NOTE: Nm to Lb ft Conversion 1Nm = .7376 lb ft

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/20/2006 5:22:17 PM

0 Boost

Correction

1lb ft = .7376 Nm

AmazingBimmer - 10/20/2006 10:29:05 AM

0 Boost

Mdalle, Rice etc. this car is largely irrelevant. everybody can take 6 jetta engines (in fact everybody can do better) pu tthem together and spend 10M PER car. What a joke... who cares? this car has nothing to do with VW or the car industry as a whole. It is IRRELEVANT. Especially if it is from VW group. Just ask the ex ceo of BMW. Shutting down project as soon as he can... he is just saving face for idiot Piech (what was that idiots name?)

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/20/2006 4:48:20 PM

0 Boost

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ WTF!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

NARunner - 10/20/2006 5:13:20 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

geez amazing, if anyone can do it, where's your homemade QT W-16 supercar?

2JZSoarer - 10/20/2006 11:01:57 PM

+1 Boost

Matthew the 2JZ-GTE's pistons would not melt because that engine is made for very high HP,there are some drag racers punching out 2,500hp with 2JZ-GTE(street glow Solara)does 6 seconds in the 1/4 mile.
So trust me when I say that a modded Supra would kill the Veyron!!!
Go to this website and check out the 1,520 hp supra!
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=674140396

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AUDIMAN4 - 10/21/2006 1:17:15 AM

+1 Boost

What gets me about all of the trashtalking in this forum from BMW and Toyota fans is that those brands haven't done anything even comparable to this, from an engineering or cost point of view.

The Veyron is an impeccable example of just how sophisticated VAG is, and no other brand can claim that they created the most powerful, most expensive, and one of the most technologically advanced machines on the road.

If Toyota is so rich and powerful, why haven't they got a car like this to show for it??? Keep hating losers.

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matt635 - 10/21/2006 2:29:41 PM

+1 Boost

it's a waste of money!!!!! they can have the technology - they just choose not to waste countless millions trying to make a production car which they can sell at a loss.

Fair play the world needs cars like the veyron - but it's made possible by and for people with money than sense - and the world has too many of those already.

It's not so much a question of "can I make this".. it's "why should I make this"

AUDIMAN4 - 10/21/2006 4:18:00 AM

+1 Boost

Hybrid is NOT the future. Diesel is. Audi, one of the few manufacturers at the forefront of Hybrid technology exploration, virtually abandoned it long ago, realizing that diesel is better.

Hybrid is just a fad. P3WND biaaaaaaaaatcccccccchhhhhh!

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IS3andME - 10/21/2006 10:17:42 AM

+1 Boost

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS, the V12 is real, was put in a Caddy 'Slade, sure it was concept and down on power, but it was a study. As is the v-16, remember Caddy has made the most V-16's of any manufac., granted it was in the 30's but they still hold the record. As far as your ignorance in American big displacement engines, take a look at "Popular Hotrodding Magazine", take a lookt their Engine Masters Competitions, these guy make reliable high HP gains, from modest to big displacements. Hell take a look at all the crate engines. Or take a looke at Top Fuel and Funny cars, and tell me that tech that goes into making 4 sec cars is not equal to that of the Bug. Give credit where credit is due.

And remember the W-16 or W-12, in non-turbo form does not make as much HP as the same displacement V-16 or -V12. As you stated the Viper makes very little of its 8.3 liter engine, did read what I wrote? I said this car IF it had dual overhead cams and 4-5 valves per cyl. would easily make 1,000 HP without a sweat. Viper techs have said this engine could handle 650 HP massage out it. But do you think parent company Mercedes would let it out HP their SLR? Politics rules out Biper engines putting out more than their Mercedes brothers.

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/21/2006 3:43:27 PM

0 Boost

You Crack me up

You are so sure about the performance figures of Engines that are not in Production.
If The manufacturers could successfully build these engines why dont they put them into production ? Oh wait, because then they would have to deveop a Chasis, Brake, Steering & Cooling Sysyem that can handle all that power in Everyday Use.

Why dont they Develop the engine and put it up for sale to People who want more power for their vehicles ??
BECAUSE THEY BLOODY CANT

IS3andME - 10/21/2006 10:20:17 AM

+1 Boost

Oh, and as for the Z06, it is common knowledge that the cam profile on the engine is conservative, this engine seems to have been made with an allowance for tinkering...

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matt635 - 10/21/2006 2:30:14 PM

+1 Boost

anybody got any ring times for the standard veyron?

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S4cabriofox - 10/21/2006 3:28:44 PM

+1 Boost

"...an American client approached him with the daunting task of improving on his Veyron with a custom exhaust system "to improve the power and sound along with possibly saving some weight"..."

Wow! Ridiculous! Improve power! On the most powerful roadcar in the world!

I'm speechless.

The Bugatti Veyron is the most technologically advanced car on Earth (eat your hearts out, LS460 fans). This new exhaust does not improve upon that.

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njshift - 10/21/2006 3:42:36 PM

+1 Boost

Ooooh, lets argue about my favorite $1.4 million dollar Bugatti. It's a technological masterpiece. No way can a brittle japanese engine make that power and not blow up. Wah Wah!! How dare people tell me it's not the greatest car on earth!! Boo Hoo. That's an insult, why would I want to compare the $1.4 million veyron to an American prototype (the prototype costs less). Snifle.. The veyron will run forever and never need service. Every fast American car is garbage, they have ancient powerful engines and they can't turn. The cost of the interior is enough to feed the entire state of Rhode Island for 2 months. There's a huge 1.4 million dollar supercar market. Everyone knows AUDI is the greatest!!! Audi is on the forefront on WORLD DOMINATION!!!!

Give it up fanboys and VAG nut-swingers. Audi finally built a great supercar... Too bad it costs 1,400,000.00 junior bacon cheeseburgers.

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 10/21/2006 3:47:24 PM

0 Boost

And your point as What ????

njshift - 10/21/2006 4:07:28 PM

+1 Boost

You guys are just funny.

IS3andME - 10/21/2006 7:31:02 PM

+2 Boost

Mdalle, I know the Bug is a fantastic engineering exercise, so great that they forgot to work out the aero on it, then delayed the production date, costing more money. That was sooo smart of them. And the only reason why it must make that much HP is because the BUG is a PIG, and they claimed it would be the fastest car, so they had to deliver. Something that Gordon Murray criticized VAG for,
but symphathized with them for his work on the SLR (Mercedes wanted that "look", but it's aero was unstable)

Am. engines had their glory days. The 60's, You had 427's, 426 Hemis, 428's, 455's, 454's, 383's. 327's. Or the rare L-88, which on todays gas would make 550-560 HP.

I can't count the time my dad's friend has said he would never have to rebuild his Chevy Nova's 327 that he put in the car. That engine has 150,000 miles on it.
Even Calloway has said if you bvase your engine off the Chevy 350, your not stupid.
Yes Viper engine is crude, but it started as truck engine, like the Ford GT's. And what do truck engine's have? High torque, which is what Dodge wanted for the orig Viper. Yes Mdalle,I do beleive that Mercedes does not want the Viper to out HP their beloved SLR or SL, or any of their bi-turbo V12's. WOuldn't look good. I garantee if Dodge were independent (and making more money) you would see more developement of that engine.

The way you guys talk is like American car companies can not come up with any thing that could beat the Euros in the engine department. When Hot-rodding engines originated in the US. Where people drag race for pink slips. Yes America's offerings are anemic at best, but don't say they can't.
Remember Ferrari, discounted Shebly in 1962 with their GTO, and after Shebly's Cobra Coupe was beating the pants off of the GTO Ferrari lobbied the FIA...

That being said, why the hell would a man go to Hennessey, who has been cited by the Better Business Bureau, for exhaust mods, when he could go to Bugatti themselves, he has enough money to get the car, obviously there must be some "perks". As my dad has said before, "more money that sense"

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