Bugatti Almost Made An Even More Powerful Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron had a 10-year production run during which it spawned multiple special editions. While the base model had to make do with a “measly” 987 horsepower, later iterations dialed up the W16 considerably. The quad-turbo, 8.0-liter monster eventually peaked at 1,183 hp in the Super Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse. Although an overwhelming figure even by 2026 standards, there was still room for more.

Bugatti’s design boss, Frank Heyl, told Top Gear magazine there were plans for a Veyron facelift to serve as the supercar’s swan song. Molsheim intended to upgrade the sixteen-cylinder powerhouse to 1,341 hp, giving the ultimate version a 158-hp advantage over the most potent variant available at the time.

It was supposed to be called the MegaWatt Veyron and could have beaten the Koenigsegg One:1 to the megawatt punch. As a refresher, the Swedish supercar debuted in 2014, one year before the Veyron was retired, with an astounding one megawatt of power, equivalent to 1,341 hp.

Although the Veyron was Ferdinand Piëch’s most spectacular pet project, it was ironically the CEO’s desire to push the record-breaking car even further that forced Bugatti to pull the plug. Piëch wanted to level up the Veyron Super Sport to an even higher 1,479 hp so the car could reach 279 mph (450 km/h).

The Super Sport topped out at 267 mph (431 km/h) in June 2010 at Volkswagen Group’s Ehra-Lessien test track. Piëch wanted the car to go another 12 mph (19 km/h) faster, but that proved too complex, as the Veyron would have required extensive reengineering. Instead, Bugatti chose to wait for the Chiron, which debuted at the very 1,479-hp level the late VW Group supremo had envisioned for its predecessor.

The Chiron later received even more power, with the Super Sport delivering a staggering 1,578 hp. At Ehra-Lessien, where the Veyron SS made history, the Chiron Super Sport reached 304 mph (490 km/h) in August 2019. However, the subsequent production version was limited to 273 mph (440 km/h). The same applied to the Veyron SS, which Bugatti capped at 258 mph (415 km/h) to protect the tires.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport World Record Edition

Photo by: Bugatti

Shortly after the Chiron Super Sport cracked the 400-km/h barrier, Bugatti announced it was done chasing speed records. With CEO Mate Rimac now calling the shots, however, that stance appears to be shifting. He hasn’t ruled out another record attempt, potentially targeting the 500-km/h mark. Reaching 310 mph with the new V16-powered Tourbillon would require special tires, though.

Additionally, Bugatti no longer has access to the Ehra-Lessien proving grounds, meaning it would need a new venue to set a production-car speed record. Where might that be? Perhaps the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds in Florida, where the SSC Tuatara hit 295 mph (474 km/h) in May 2022. We also recall the Koenigsegg Agera RS setting several records in 2017 on a closed section of Highway 160 outside Pahrump, Nevada. Then again, Volkswagen still owns a 45-percent stake in Bugatti through Porsche, so perhaps a workaround could be arranged.

Photo by: Bugatti

Motor1’s Take: Even without an ultimate version, the Veyron is easily one of the most important cars of our generation. Whether measured by power or speed, its multiple records stand as a testament to its status as the pinnacle of the internal-combustion era. The Chiron may have taken things to the next level, but it wouldn’t have happened without Piëch’s relentless pursuit of automotive excellence.

Bugatti celebrated Piëch’s legacy this week with the stunning FKP Hommage, and we believe the next logical step would be taking the Tourbillon to 500 km/h. It would be a fitting way to honor the visionary engineer and executive who had such a profound influence on the Volkswagen Group.