New Car: 2012 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse

Bugatti announced the impending arrival of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse in a bravado-laced statement, calling it the culmination of engineers’ efforts to “transfer all the achievements of the Super Sport over to the Grand Sport.” The resultant open-top missile packs 1200 hp, nearly 20 percent more than the Grand Sport convertible’s paltry sum of 1001; torque increases from 922 lb-ft to 1106 lb-ft, so towing the old Bayliner down to the lake for the weekend should be a breeze for this new droptop.

As is the case with the Super Sport, the power bump comes primarily from increasing the size of the 16-cylinder engine’s quad turbochargers as well as its intercoolers. The chassis has been tweaked as well, but to what extent is not immediately clear, Bugatti simply stating, “The chassis has been modified to support the power increase.” Bugatti strengthens the Super Sport’s carbon-fiber tub, reinforces its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and revises its suspension, tweaks we expect were made here, too.

Given its lack of a smoothed-over fixed roof, however, the Vitesse likely won’t be able to reach the same 268 mph as the Super Sport (the extra-fast coupe is limited to 258 mph in production trim). Instead of creating a droptop Super Sport, Bugatti is leaning on the hot-rodder’s “more power, more better” mantra. That said, chances are that in addition to being the most powerful roadster in the world, ever, of all time, it will be the fastest as well.

Thanks to: Car and Driver