Due to the car's aero profile, the engine had to generate 2bhp per 1mph over 200mph.

If Bugatti sell 300 cars at £1Million each, the VAG group will have lost £4.25Million per car, due to the mammoth production cost involved with the R&D project. This is not as bad as it sounds: a lot of the technology in the Veyron will filter down into the VAG range of cars at some point in the future.

It is also rumoured that a 'Sport' version of the Veyron will be unveiled shortly. This new car is rumoured to be not only lighter, but more powerful as well. With 1200Bhp and less weight the 'Sport' could get close to the 280Mph mark. That is, if Michelin can create an adequate tyre.

Conclusion

So there you have it, the Bugatti Veyron, not only a great engineering achievement, but a good car too.

I'm just glad that in the modern era, there is a company like the VAG group willing to risk reputation and money on a project like the Veyron. Yes, it may not make them any money, but it has proved that they are the masters of engineering, and because of that their reputation as one of the premier car makers in the world has been cemented into the minds of all petrol heads on the planet.

As such, it wins not only my Car Of The Year award, but my engineering award for the year as well.