Geneva motor show 2012: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport

Bugatti has unveiled the most powerful roadster of all time, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, at the Geneva motor show.

The new model is based on the existing open-topped Grand Sport model, but with the significant hikes in power and torque seen on the closed-topped Super Sport version.

Read our first drive review of the original Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Whereas the current Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport possesses 987bhp and 922lb ft, Bugatti’s engineers have teased 1184bhp at 6400rpm and 1105lb ft at 3000-5000rpm from the new Vitesse edition – mirroring the increases made to the Super Sport compared to the ‘regular’ Veyron coupé.

The increased power of the new roadster’s 16-cylinder, eight-litre engine is made possible by the four enlarged turbochargers and intercoolers. The chassis has also been modified to support the power increase.

The French manufacturer hasn’t specified a 0-62mph time for the revised machine, but expect it be in the region of 2.5sec. By comparison, the current Grand Sport achieves the sprint in 2.7sec and goes on to a top speed of 253mph, but is limited to 223mph with the transparent polycarbonate roof removed.

A price tag has yet to be confirmed, but should be in the region of the £2.1m asking price for the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport.