Driving the world's fastest cars from the past six decades, from Lamborghini Miura to Bugatti Chiron
Group boss Ferdinand Piëch had plucked the Veyron’s target numbers out of thin air: 1000PS , a 250mph-plus top speed and price of €1 million.
At launch, its W16 engine not only made the requisite 1000PS but also an eye-watering 922lb ft of torque, resulting in a top speed of 253mph. Ten radiators had to be used to cool the 8.0-litre engine, which was left without a cover to release more hot air. In order to deploy all that power, a four-wheel drive system was created with a complex Haldex differential working on the front axle and a limited-slip differential at the rear.
Strangely, the Veyron’s cabin is the least intimidating of all our cars so far. Push the start button, select drive, accelerate away at a normal rate and I could be driving a slightly largerAfter some initial lag, the Veyron’s 1888kg is no match for the monstrous torque, and as I head towards turn one, the speed it reaches is near-suicidal. Thankfully, the brakes are equally stupefying, and I get to live another day.