Currently reading: Geneva motor show 2012: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport
The open-topped Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport gets 1184bhp and 1105lb ft of torque

Bugatti has unveiled the most powerful roadster of all time, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, at the Geneva motor show.

The new model is based on the existing open-topped Grand Sport model, but with the significant hikes in power and torque seen on the closed-topped Super Sport version.

Read our first drive review of the original Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Whereas the current Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport possesses 987bhp and 922lb ft, Bugatti’s engineers have teased 1184bhp at 6400rpm and 1105lb ft at 3000-5000rpm from the new Vitesse edition – mirroring the increases made to the Super Sport compared to the ‘regular’ Veyron coupé.

The increased power of the new roadster’s 16-cylinder, eight-litre engine is made possible by the four enlarged turbochargers and intercoolers. The chassis has also been modified to support the power increase.

The French manufacturer hasn’t specified a 0-62mph time for the revised machine, but expect it be in the region of 2.5sec. By comparison, the current Grand Sport achieves the sprint in 2.7sec and goes on to a top speed of 253mph, but is limited to 223mph with the transparent polycarbonate roof removed.

A price tag has yet to be confirmed, but should be in the region of the £2.1m asking price for the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport.

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Car review
Bugatti Veyron
The world doesn't need a car like the Bugatti Veyron, but the fact it exists at all is reason for celebration

The Bugatti Veyron redefines what's possible in a road car, but does it justify its eye-watering price?

Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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Lesia44 23 February 2012

Re: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport tweaked

Peter Cavellini wrote:
how can there be a million pounds difference between two Aston's?
That's a very good question and I'm sure one that Aston won't want to hear repeated too often.

Peter Cavellini 23 February 2012

Re: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport tweaked

TegTypeR wrote:

I always find it funny that the worlds most expensive (and what should be the most desirable) production car creates so much apathy, especially amongst the people that should love it the most.

Aston 1-77,£1.4 million,Aston Zagato just under £400,000,the Veyron Grand Sport, about a million Euro's, now, which is the best value car?,because as far as i can see, your paying a million for the so called 1-77 Hospital!,i'd sooner have the Veyron or the Zagato,it's not apathy,it's money, how can there be a million pounds difference between two Aston's?,of the two the Zagato looks the money,and for sheer presence...has to be the Veyron.

Evo_ermine 22 February 2012

Re: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport tweaked

newdevonian wrote:
I doubt whether you would achieve faster times with the Veyron on any chosen route

It's about the experience of driving the fastest car in the world, not how long it takes to get there.