By Bill C.
2006 Spyder
VW Spyder Coming – VW is reportedly working on an ultralight, affordable 2-seat convertible that will offer outstanding performance without compromising safety. It’s expect to us a 2.0-liter direct injection engine with roughly 150 hp. Will it be that Concept-R we say a few months ago? Or maybe that retractable hardtop thingy from last month? This is getting interesting.
Veyron Do Run
Veyron Delay Worth It – This last winter, a week or so after the Formula One race in Monaco, the boys of Bugati showed off one of their million dollar plus prototypes… and nearly wiped it out in an on track spin out. You might have heard about it. It was pretty much the first real world debut since the concept was shown. But, boo hoo Bugati. This thing only had a W16. What about the 3 banked 18 cylinder? Ha! As if. This teensy engine of 488 Cubic Inches, with its four turbochargers, was only pumping….. you ready?….. try 1200 hp! Maybe it was the spin-out, but the Euro version will be detuned to 1 pony over a thousand, 1001 hp. While the American version (I have on order.. heh heh) will only get 987 hp.
But, as you’ve heard, things are running behind. The new manufacturing facility is 6 months behind completion. And there is a couple of technical issues; like stability at 252 mph. With 7 gears, it is good to 252 in 7th. An automatic rear wing has helped up to 200. But more help is needed. Then, those 920 pound-feet of torque are exceptionally good and busting tranny gears. Ouch! I feel their pain. I fully expect these bugs to be ironed out before I whop down my $1,175,000.
This just in on those technical problems: Insiders say that plans have been made to limit the top speed on production models to 218 mph.
Now more news that, due to quality demands by the parent company, the French built power monster will be delayed another 15 months. This forecasts that the first ones will roll out the door in the latter half of 2005.