Bugatti verus SSC fastest car

[Nomen Nescio]

After SSC beat the Veyron's top speed for a road-legal car,
Bugatti created a new model that goes over 430 km/h
(with limiter disabled). Now SSC say they will beat that
by going 450 kh/h! Is that not madness? Bugatti had to boost
the engine to 1200 HP, and make other improvements, as
drag is proportional to speed cubed.
see http://www.gtechprosupport.com/support/AeroDragCalc.htm
What tyres can sustain this speed?
Furthermore, Bugatti does not make a profit on the Veyron,
they just made it for bragging rights.

[Peter Hill]

On Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:45:32 +0200 (CEST), Nomen Nescio

Post by Nomen Nescio
After SSC beat the Veyron's top speed for a road-legal car,
Bugatti created a new model that goes over 430 km/h
(with limiter disabled). Now SSC say they will beat that
by going 450 kh/h! Is that not madness? Bugatti had to boost
the engine to 1200 HP, and make other improvements, as
drag is proportional to speed cubed.
see http://www.gtechprosupport.com/support/AeroDragCalc.htm
What tyres can sustain this speed?

Goodyear LSRs are rated to Mach 0.5. JCB DieselMax tested them to make
sure. I think they are only rated for use on salt - far lower
coefficient of friction compared to tarmac / concrete so would need a
re-test. On salt low friction means the time / distance needed for run
up is much increased.

Some cars have gone over 400mph on rubber tyres. Bluebird had rubber,
started off with a round profile like motorcycle, tyre left deep V
grooves in the salt.

Veyron uses $25,000/£23,000 a set street legal tyres that last 2.5K
miles, the wheels have to be changed every 3rd tyre change. Does the
SSC set/attempt it's records on street legal tyres?

Post by Nomen Nescio
Furthermore, Bugatti does not make a profit on the Veyron,
they just made it for bragging rights.

Compared to a couple of seasons losing F1 while learning how build a
contender it's a bargain. It's possible to make 1/2 a car go faster
for very much less.

Pontiac Firebird 6L V8 has gone over 300mph (on rubber)
http://www.kugelkomponents.com/bonneville/bonneville.html

What's lacking is street legal, production finish and expected life.