Ferrari Mailing List: Re: BUGATTI WOW ! - (NFC)

[Mike Fleischer (themightytoe]

I am not certain I agree with either point...  These cars are fodder for 
adolescent fantasy no question but engineering superiority?

Creating limited production run, hand assembled vehicles is not really 
much different than building a race car, both have a list of rules to 
follow (wether its FIA regulations for a spoiler placement or door 
intrusion during a side impact).  Production numbers differ a bit (in 
some cases not really that much)...

Clearly the motors and drive trains and chassis and 
wheels/tires/suspension can show some significant innovation but none of 
these "supercars" represent more than beautiful styling, expensive 
materials, hot rodded motors and a large price tag.  By that measure, 
the Mac F1, the F40, even the Enzo, are really impressive cars, but 
engineering accomplishments?  Not really as much as they are an exercise 
in mechanical aptitude and visual design.

Let's face facts, automotive innovation is very few and far between...  
Its mostly an exercise in accounting (even at Ferrari) and marketing.  
Real engineering is happening, but most of that is related to improving 
efficiencies, or manufacturing costs or any other aspect that makes the 
cars more profitable and sell-able.

Here are some automotive stuff that are really innovative (that you can 
actually see on your car):

Toyota's Prius (give them props where they are due)
Volkswagen's TDI cars
Run flat tires
In car navigation
Hands free phone calls
Regenerative brake systems
Direct Injection
Variable valve control
Vehicle auto-cruise control
Vehicle auto-parking...

Most of the other stuff has been rolled into the manufacturing like 
cracked piston rods, or lower tolerances on bearings because of engine 
oil improvements, single piece engine blocks, removal of piston sleeve 
liners, or more consistent body panels due to better stamping machinery...

While some of the supercars may use these, none of them were early 
adopters...

That said, The Bugatti Veyron is just plain ugly.  Sorry, I do not care 
for it at all, style wise its just hideous and has no appeal whatsoever 
to me.  Impressive performance on it, but yuck, the automotive 
equivalent of plaid golfer pants...

Mike

Dan Warlick wrote:
> Agreed 100%.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "LS" <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com>
> To: "Daniel" <edwf430 [at] att.net>
> Cc: "The FerrariList" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 9:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [Ferrari] BUGATTI WOW ! - (NFC)
>
>
>
> Is it really an engineering accomplishment? I beg to differ, it has 24 
> turbos and 50000 horsepower. Big deal...a kid could predict that.
>
> An engineering accomplishment would be to design a car that could do the 
> same with 600bhp or without all of the complication...and a lot of race cars 
> have come close to that. There's nothing impressive about a 4700lb "sporty" 
> car that is as complicated as the Veyron.
>
> McLaren F1 is still the ultimate!
>
> LS
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: E M <pokiebaron [at] gmail.com>
> To: LS <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com>
> Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 9:45:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [Ferrari] BUGATTI WOW ! - (NFC)
>
> I think the record was set by a Peugeot, of 253 mph, or 406 kmh. I think
> they put the twisties in Mulsanne straight, late 80's real 90's to help
> keep top speeds down.
>
> I think the old porsche 917s were touching up near 240 mph, but I can't find
> any official times for it posted.
>
> The thing with the BUG, if you drive it like that, you'll be out of gas in
> about 12 minutes, if you start with a full tank, and tires probably not long
> after. lol. Still, it is quite the engineering accomplishment for a road
> car!! ;-)
>
> Ed
> 911SC
>
> 2009/3/30 <red5hilser [at] aol.com>
>
>   
> > Does any Tifosi out there know what the all-time top speed reached on the
> > straight at Le Mans is? I think it's not too much slower than this. Just
> > wondering . . .
> >
> > Yer pal, Ferrari Bubba
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> > Get there faster with the MapQuest Toolbar. Try it now.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Get there faster with the MapQuest Toolbar. Try it now.
> >
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