World's most powerful saloon car

Sep 28 2009 Steve Hughes

World's most powerful saloon car

AS many motor manufacturers announce plans to develop the most environmentally-friendly and politically-correct cars possible, Bugatti is preparing to launch the world's most powerful saloon.

Admittedly, the car will be dual-fuel - petrol or ethanol, which is also aptly known as rocket fuel.

Bugatti says that the remarkable Galibier will be the world's most exclusive and elegant four-door saloon, which will put would-be rivals such as the Porsche Panamera and the Maserati Quattroporte to shame.

At this stage there is no indication of likely prices but the Veyron Grand Sport upon which the car is based costs 1.4 million euros plus local taxes.

The Veyron uses a 16-cylinder eight-litre engine with quad turbochargers to generate an awesome 1,000bhp which rockets the car to 60mph in just over two and a half seconds and on to a top speed in excess of 250mph.

The saloon, which is to be named after the Galibier alpine pass, will use the same engine with two-stage supercharging and what Bugatti refers to as a ``twist'' that enables it to run on ethanol.

The massive amount of power means that it must be transmitted to all four wheels to maximise grip for take-off and cornering and there are huge ceramic brakes fitted as standard.

When the carbon fibre and aluminium car is launched from standstill under maximum acceleration the G-forces can be similar to those of a jet fighter plane.

Bugatti says that the Galibier follows the same lines with an unusually long bonnet as those of the Type 35 and 57 models of 70 years ago, one example of which changed hands this year for 3.5 million euros after being discovered in the garage of Newcastle doctor Harold Carr.

There is also the distinctive Buggati grille and large headlamps although these are now of the latest LED variety.

The interior is also unusual, with swathes of wood and leather and just two large dials in the centre of the dashboard, one of which shows engine speed up to 8,000rpm whilst the other is a speedometer with a top reading of 390kph (244mph).

There is also a small Swiss-made clock that appears to rest upon a ledge within the dash and can be removed and worn upon the wrist to indicate that the wearer is also the owner of the world's most expensive and exclusive saloon car.