Geneva show: Final Bugatti Veyron bows out

THE final example of the world’s fastest production car bowed out in Geneva this week, and was displayed alongside the very first Veyron 16.4 that preceded it 10 years ago.

Finished in special red carbon-fibre bodywork as well as a flurry of special last-of-series touches – but sporting no more power or torque compared to the Grand Sport Finesse variant on which it is based – the La Finale is the 450th of the series made.

However Bugatti Automobiles president Wolfgang Dürheimer said all was not lost, by revealing that a Veyron 16.4 replacement is in the pipeline.

"With the next Bugatti model, we are aiming to consolidate and expand the market-leading position we have established with the Veyron," he said. "Our challenge is to make the best even better."While little is known about the replacement, reports last year suggested it could be powered by a hybrid powertrain and potentially reach speeds of up to a mind-boggling 460km/h.

The La Finale is a deliberate homage to the original 16.4, with a black and red exterior colour scheme. Black is used for exposed carbon-fibre covering the front mudguards, doors and areas between the doors and side air intakes, while red in the same material swathes the rest of the bodyshell.

According to Bugatti it is a world-first application of red carbon fibre.

Conversely, no other Veyron has a painted black intercooler or air scoops, a black elephant logo on the aluminium red wheel covers, fuel tank, and oil cap.

Inside, the Silk light beige mirrors the 2005 original but contrasts against with a red tone known as Hot Spur, while red carbon-fibre reappears on the centre tunnel, console, door panels, seat shells and storage compartment cover between the front seats.

La Finale lettering is peppered throughout the car. Bugatti says the owner had a say in the way the colour and trim detailing came together.

The Grand Sport Finesse was released in 2012, and used the upgraded 883kW version of the 2005 Veyron 16.4 original’s 763kW 8.0-litre W16 64-valve quad-turbo introduced in the 2010 Super Sport edition. The DSG dual-clutch transmission retained its previous seven-speed design.

"As the most powerful and fastest production supercar in the world, the Veyron is a true benchmark," Mr Dürheimer said. "With a world record speed of 431.072 km/h, it has become an icon of longitudinal dynamics."Of the 450 Veyron 16.4s, 300 were coupes and 150 were convertibles.

As no two cars are ever the same due to an endless level of personalisation options, the average cost of the most recent versions is €2.3 million ($A3.29 million).