Veyron Grand Sport

Make
Bugatti
Segment
Compact

Consider this a taste of what's to come. With the Veyron's successor set to be unveiled in Geneva next year, the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo marks a new chapter in the carmaker's history. Previewing Bugatti's future design language, Bugatti President Wolfgang Dürheimer says the concept will give fans something to chew on while Bugatti builds "the world's fastest, most exclusive, most luxurious and most powerful production super sports car."

Bugatti's design DNA has reached a new stage in its evolution," says Achim Anscheidt, head of the Bugatti design team. "Given the nature of the project, our concept car for Vision Gran Turismo is overstated and pushes performance to the limits, but its progressive design language will clearly show the direction that Bugatti's design will take in the coming years." Finished in the classic blue two-tone body colors of the Type 57 G Tank, the 1937 Le Mans winner, the Vision GT pays homage to Bugatti's racing tradition of the 1920s and 1930s, yet is based on cutting-edge tech using the latest aerodynamic simulation models.

As a virtual race car, the goal was extreme performance with engineers and designers working together for six months. Dispensing with systems responsible for luxury and comfort, the vehicle could be made more lightweight with space for high-performance aeros and a new radiator layout. Racing experts from VW Group also ensured every detail on the race car is authentic, while every design feature serves a purpose. Large convex surfaces contrast with concave transitions and strong lines, most notably the famous Bugatti line that divides the body into the signature two-tone finish while also cooling the vehicle.

Positioned in the central front air intake, the front grille horseshoe supports the front splitter, and is flanked by specially-developed eight-eye headlights that also act as air intakes to cool the brakes. Derived from the legendary 1936 Type 57 Atlantic, the center fin runs the length of the roof, aiding the car's stability, and also houses the kinematic system for the rear wing, which controls the air brake and drag reduction system (DRS). Other noteworthy features include the NACA duct finished in light blue, and the trailing edge that provides stability and exhausts hot air from the engine compartment. Power is sent to all four wheels via a W16 powerplant, which enables the Vision GT to hit 250 mph on four sections of the virtual Le Mans racetrack.

While slower on the bends, that would make it as fast as the fastest real-life LMP1 racer. "The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is the ultimate performance beast," says Anscheidt. "With its radical and extreme design, it's a thoroughbred Bugatti for the virtual race track." The two-tone interior boasts matte blue visible carbon fiber elements combined with lightweight durable suede - normally used for F1 racing shoes – on the steering wheel, dash, and headrest, the first time a car has been upholstered with this material. Two displays, one on the steering wheel, the other on the steering column, provides the driver with all relevant info and combines images from three exterior-mounted cameras for a better overview.