"If it is comparable, it is no longer Bugatti."
This quote by founder Ettore Bugatti sums up the brand. Bugatti has never interested itself in being "better" than the competition; it aims to be in a completely different stratosphere.
Originally a French manufacturer (founded by an Italian artist-engineer), Bugatti dominated pre-war racing with the Type 35. But in the modern era, under the ownership of the Volkswagen Group, Bugatti became a science experiment: What happens when you give engineers an unlimited budget?
The Resurrection: The Veyron
In the early 2000s, VW boss Ferdinand Piëch made a demand that sounded impossible. He wanted a car that could:
- Have 1,000 horsepower.
- Exceed 400 km/h (248 mph).
- Accelerate from 0-60 in under 2.5 seconds.
- Be comfortable enough to drive to the opera.
The result was the Bugatti Veyron. To achieve this, they built an 8.0L W16 engine (essentially two V8s smashed together) with four turbochargers and ten radiators. It didn't just break the record; it shattered it.
The Ritual: The Speed Key
You cannot simply get in a Bugatti and hit top speed. The car is electronically limited to "only" 236 mph in normal mode to protect the tires.
To go faster, you must stop the car and insert a second, special key into a slot on the floor beside the driver's seat. This is the "Speed Key." It lowers the suspension, closes the front diffuser flaps, and aligns the rear wing to minimize drag. It is a theatrical ritual that reminds you: "We are about to do something dangerous."
The Successor: Chiron and Tourbillon
The Chiron took the Veyron's formula and refined it, bumping power to 1,500 hp. More recently, the Tourbillon introduced a V16 hybrid system with a gauge cluster designed by Swiss watchmakers, proving Bugatti is still obsessed with mechanical art.
Buying Advice: The $20,000 Oil Change
If you are lucky enough to be shopping for a used Veyron, be prepared for the running costs. They are comedy-gold levels of expensive:
- Tires: A set of Michelin Pilot Sport Pax tires for a Veyron costs roughly $25,000. They must be glued to the rim. Michelin recommends replacing them every 2,500 miles.
- Wheels: Every third or fourth tire change, you must also replace the wheels themselves to ensure the seal integrity. That is a $50,000 expense.
- Oil Change: An annual oil change costs roughly $20,000 because the mechanics have to disassemble half the rear of the car to reach the drain plugs.
Bugatti is not a car you own; it is a car you support financially, like a small country.