Bugatti plots extreme 1,600hp Veyron Super Sport for 2013 Frankfurt
Bugatti is preparing a Veyron Super Sport variant for Frankfurt 2013, with 1,600hp, 0-100km/h in 1.8 seconds and a rumoured 463km/h top speed.
Bugatti is preparing to unveil an extreme version of the Veyron Super Sport at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sources suggesting a headline 1,600hp output and a 0-100km/h time of just 1.8 seconds. If confirmed, these figures would place the new Veyron variant at the very top of the hypercar performance charts.
The new Veyron Super Sport is rumoured to feature a heavily reworked engine, with capacity increased from 8.0 to 9.6 litres. The target output of 1,600hp would be a substantial leap from the current Super Sport’s 1,200hp, and would eclipse the figures announced for upcoming rivals from Ferrari and McLaren. The car is expected to shed 249kg compared to the standard model, thanks to further use of lightweight materials.
Performance claims and engineering targets
A 0-100km/h time of 1.8 seconds would comfortably outpace the existing Veyron Super Sport, which is already among the fastest-accelerating production cars. The projected top speed of 463km/h (288mph) would also move the goalposts for road-legal vehicles, although such figures remain subject to confirmation from Bugatti. The company has not made these specifications official, but the reported numbers are consistent with the brand’s tradition of pushing technical boundaries.
The expected weight saving of 249kg would address one of the few criticisms of the Veyron platform. Reducing mass, while simultaneously increasing power, would be essential to achieving the claimed acceleration figures. The standard Veyron Super Sport already uses extensive carbon fibre construction, so further savings would likely come from more aggressive use of composites and lightweight alloys.
Competition and market context
Bugatti’s plans come as Ferrari and McLaren prepare their own new hypercars, with the successor to the Enzo and a new McLaren flagship both expected in 2013. Bugatti’s move to raise the Veyron’s output to 1,600hp appears targeted directly at maintaining its status as the world’s fastest and most powerful production car, a position it has held since the original Veyron’s debut.
- Ferrari’s Enzo successor (F70) due in 2013
- McLaren’s new flagship hypercar in development
- Bugatti aiming to retain fastest production car title
Pricing for the extreme Veyron Super Sport is rumoured to start above $2.5 million, or roughly €1.9 million and £1.5 million at 2012 exchange rates. That would make it one of the most expensive production cars ever offered, reflecting both its technical ambition and exclusivity.
What to expect at Frankfurt 2013
If Bugatti’s plans proceed as reported, the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show will see the public debut of the most extreme Veyron yet. The company has not issued an official announcement, and the final specifications may still change before the September show. The hypercar sector is set for a dramatic year, with Bugatti, Ferrari and McLaren all vying for the performance crown.
