On track days, the 8.0 litre, 16-cylinder Bugatti engine can surge up to 255mph without a great deal of difficulty. The finely balanced engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission puts 1,500Nm of torque at your disposal between 3,000 and 5,000rpm; small wonder that the Vitesse passes the 62mph mark in 2.6 seconds.
At the same time, a great deal of effort has been made to ensure that travelling at such high speeds in a roadster is a relaxed and comfortable one. A new roof spoiler and windbreak does a fine job of reducing noise and turbulence inside the cockpit, making the ultimate open-top driving experience that bit more enjoyable.
The carbon fibre monocoque of the Grand Sport Vitesse possesses a torsional rigidity of 22,000Nm per degree. The enormous structural strength, as well as providing excellent body control when cornering, gives the car excellent resistance to sudden impacts – you will find none of the quivering associated with high-speed roadsters here, even when travelling at the fastest speeds.
The robust nature of the Vitesse’s framework could be even more important in protecting you and your passengers if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a road accident. This adds to the arsenal of active and passive safety measures, which include an advanced Electronic Stability Programme and anti-roll bars hidden in the air sockets to the rear of the cockpit. That is not to mention the excellent brakes, which enable you to come to a halt from 62mph in a mere 2.3 seconds.