The Veyron shook up the hypercar scene with a 16-cylinder engine. Picture: SUPPLIEDW16 engine has been propelling Bugatti’s hyper sports cars for almost 20 years. The only 16-cylinder engine in the world to be used in a car, it is a veritable engineering masterpiece that has become an icon in its own right. This is a look back at the story of its evolution and development.
His idea was an engine with 18 cylinders, but it would subsequently be modified to become the W-shaped 16-cylinder unit we know today: a fitting homage to the 16-cylinder engine developed by Ettore Bugatti himself. On its first test in 2001, the engine achieved the required 1,000hp right off the bat. But such were the leaps in performance that traditional engine test bench and ventilation systems could not cope with the new W16 and new systems had to be developed.
The sound of the engine is exclusive thanks to an asymmetric firing order with firing gaps of just 45 degrees. It’s a sound unlike any other engine. The development work paid off, with the Chiron Super Sport 300+ breaking a speed record in 2019 to become the first production automobile to surpass the 300mph mark. Hitting a speed of 490.484km/h, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ is the fastest production sports car about,