Such a shame there are so many comments with no engineering background other than an internet degree. This engine is truely a work of art. Yes there are ways to make the same or more power, but that will always be the way or there would be only one engine manufacture out there. That engine push's a 4100lb car into the 9's in the quarter mile (supersport version), passes emissions, and can be ran wide open long enough with no issue at all to make it to 267mph. I'm 100% for American V8, but have you ever seen any American V8 capable of over 1200hp and 1100 ft lbs of torque that idles glass smooth, passes emissions, and has a full warranty?
Basel Kader I have seen american V8's that were quite expensive, but I have no idea how much it actually costs VW to build this engine. To buy one would be rediculous since they have no interest in selling them to people and therefore would price it out of people buying one. Find me one factory American V8 with 8.0L of displacement, 4 valves per cylinder, and the ability to be run at peak hp from full tank to empty. The closest American V8 to ever be built anywhere near the technology put into the Veyron engine was the LT5 Chevrolet engine that was designed by not chevrolet, but Lotus. That engine to purchase was roughly 28k and that price was back in the early 90's. That engine also only put out 405RWHP at it's best and wasn't turbocharged. The Zenvo and Hennessy supercar's use engines based on the LSx type of engine with ton's of money put into them and they couldn't hold a candle to the Veyron engine. The W16 puts down roughly the same performance numbers with considerably more weight to lug around and does so with better emissions, more room to grow, and smoothness that can't be beat. I am the guy who will only ever own GM V8 car's, but that doesn't mean what I own is in any way better than other engines out there.
its a waste of fucking gas, and a completely illogical engine. Its looks very pretty ill give you that, but no one in the world needs a car that goes 260 mph. Its 0-60 time can be achieved or be very nearly reached by manyyyy cars. An engine with almost 1/3 of this engine's cylinders AND displacement can get up to 245 mph and the same, if not, a better 0-60 time. From an engineering stand point, i understand how impressive the design of it is. But now that weve eliminated everything else, the only thing left youve got going for you is it passing smog which is a.... boring spec. The rating that this engine has on gas mileage alone, brings down all the other positives it has.
I have known about these configurations in WWII aircraft engines but I have never seen them placed in an automobile until the Veyron. Look at a standard V-8 block and right away one will notice that essentially two V-8s are "stacked' together to form the W-16. Beautiful engine none-the-less.
The Veyron's engine is a milestone of engineering as it has the lowest manufacturing tolerances of any engine ever built in series and introduced revolutionary technologies that are now slowly entering the mass market. If your new car consumes less fuel and has more power even though it's engine is smaller, lighter and has fewer cubic capacity, it's because of this car. It brought innovations that would be impossible to introduce first with large series cars, because of the enormous financial risks bound to it. Imagine if the engineers made a small mistake. With a car only built so few times, you can easily recall them and fix the problem without the public noticing. Think of Toyota's devastating recall because of the accelerator problems and what it has costed them. Developing this car was the smartest thing Volkswagen could have done.
Well you can't please everyone i'm not in love with VW everything but I have ultimate respect for the bugatti. It's a piece of high class engineering and its a fascinating project to read about. It's been in production since 2005 (so about 7 years) and the buyers are very wealthy and very influential people so I can't imagine that serious problems would not surface. It mirrors the mclaren F1 project with such level of detailed engineering it will going strong with 100k on the clock.
I see a couple VR6 components like the timing chain tensioners the angle the piston has to go in and the special compressor with angle on it and couple other little thing wow how the VR evolved over the years this is just a beast.
What you're seeing at 4:03 are the camshafts, not the crankshaft (which it only has one of). The crankshaft has 4 bolt mains, but also uses an main girdle instead of caps. This adds rigidity to the entire crankcase, not just the crank. And this thing is an engineering marvel, not nightmare. The 16 pistons, which are spread out over 4 planes, allow the engine to make more horsepower and torque per liter of displacement than a V8 of comparable displacement.
Unbelievable design and build. Very costly with any failures due to complex build and multiple components. I my opinion a very nicely engineered piece of art.
I'd love to build one of these engines in the future, or even find one of these engines at a wrecker yard in 20 years time, pull it all apart and put it back together again, i reckon it would be SO MUCH fun... seriously.
We can also see the the studs for the main cap at 2:10 where they're tightening the connecting rod bearings. But maybe you saw my earlier post where I pointed that out. Good eye on the single main bearing, I missed that the first time I saw this video. Interesting solution.
@WaiWu This is an expression of utmost concentration and not at all depressed. These are the top mechanic, the best people that you can get. The working conditions are like those of a surgeon in an OP.
It's like this: "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft's Salzgitter Engine Plant.This is where all W8s, W12s, W12 Twin Turbos and W16 Quad Turbos are made." Only one apostrophe was required. No apostrophes for plurals. Thanks for an interesting video
And the strings you see holding the tools up are pretty common in factories. They're retractors that hold the tool up and out of the way until you need it. And on an engine like this, they use plastic bags and covers to cover components to keep them from getting contaminated before they're installed in the engine.
That's pretty clever, the computer is keeping track of which bolts/nuts are being torqued - as they're being torqued. Is an employee clicking a mouse? Does the computer just indicate which to torque and the guy with the wrench click a button each time he tightens a nut?
two vr6 engines mated at the crank. what you get is the worlds most exensive vw with a nameplate that died years ago. don't get me wrong fellas a love it, but it's a vw super car with a high end name plate. still one of my favorite engine designs.
HOLY CRAP at that crank shaft. HOLY CRAP at that engine block lol its two v8s on top of each other the french (under German management) can really make a car.
@Fille3133 The thermal issues I'm looking at are the staggered exhaust ports that create hot spots, possibly warping the cylinder head and causing head gasket failure. The head castings themselves are definitely more complicated than your average chevy small block.
Thank you. Finally someone who understands.Your cobra engine is overstressed from that kind of power. The Bugatti makes 1000PS barely even sweating bullets on a boost thats probably extremely low compared to the Cobra. The powerband must be beautiful. While your Cobra is probably a car that is violent most of the times. The Bugatti would kick its ass without much less effort involved.
Its a lot of work....after 100+ years of piston engines I am looking forward to the next 100 years of Electric propulsion...just wish I was around to see what is to come, this is old old tech now...still admire it. Bristol sleeve valve aero engines...now your talking!
it's unbelivebly quiet in that factory.....i'd love to work there p.s.- i'm an Audi tech and it's the same technology that Audi uses in their engines today...except Audi adds a shitload more of stuff ilke variable valve timing(lift and duration) not just camshaft timing,variable intake manifold,DSG, etc. Oh i'm pretty sure the W16 engine is an FSI. I've trained on their W12 and it's quite a piece of art...i can only imagine what the W16 is seen in person.
I've been to a few factories etc in the UK and we still do some pretty amazing things - it's just that we rarely do it on such a mass scale anymore. Think of the F1 cars we produce, for example. I know we still have the potential to be a great manufacturing country again if ever the economic circumstances allow it to happen.
At 4:03 the bearing cap he points out does have two bolts, but its camshafts that are being held down, not the crank. Like you say, at 1:50, there are four bolts. And it looks like 9 main bearings. I think it will last despite the 1001 hp!
Ingeniera unica y verdadera del mejor superdeportivo sobre la faz de la tierra. BUGATTI VEYRON W16.4 el REY DE REYES. El numero uno hoy por hoy con su maximo representante BUGATTI VEYRON SUPER SPORT.
This is a beautifully designed engine. This configuration used by Diamler-Benz or Jumo during WWII would have significantly altered the potential of German aircraft.
you have no idea this is a car that is on the road for 6 years now and you don t know about this great engine probably the best road legal engine in the world
Aero engine is essentially from Corvette C5. Be in mind its ligthweight means no ABS, TCS thus required a skilled driver to properly handle it. Its chassis. Its design shows its derivation from Lamborghini Diablo replica SSC used to built.
@naturalyshocked But the German flying saucer craft were made of a metal alloy called Viktalon, which could withstand 40 000 mph in the upper atmosphere. Cermet is used in jet engine impeller blades, I think, and can resist volcanic ash somewhat. We must be particular and ask, what type of ceramic does Bugatti use? Anyway, the car is not 'death-proof '. The materials used are not futuristic, but based on what the average 'rich' person is willing to shell out.
Slowcreep, there's no way around turning the crank. You have to to get all the pistons in after that, to check for binding. The pistons would have assembly lube (or even engine oil) on them as would all the bearings. I'm pretty sure these guys know what thier doing.
Well I know a VW vehicle that is made it the US, I forget the model, it could be the Passat but I'm not sure. It can deliver 85MPG highway economy which is amazing but cannot be sold in the US only 3rd world countries or in Europe where they are fuel conscious. The oil companies have been ripping us for years, I've never heard of Nelson racing but that spec you mention is amazing for a V8. I have been on American websites that cater for after market gear for engine upgrades very comprehensive.
Just to add to Gwynne66's comments, yes the Veyron is actually 'restricted' to 1001bhp. you're right that unrestricted it will produce a lot more. Bugatti engineers did admit this. They had to consider their 'civil safety resposibility' The veyron's performance was limited by tyre technology. It's a heavy car and Bugatti probably wanted a tyre that can safely sustain top speed for more than just say a few minutes
1:07 he is setting the main bearing studs in the block. At 3:05 they are installing a housing that looks like a one piece main cap assembly. I wish they had shown more of how that was torqued down.
What you're seeing at 4:03 are camshafts, not crankshafts. They don't need 4 bolt bearings and don't need to be big and chunky because they are under very little stress (Atleast in comparison with other moving parts of the engine). At 2:10 you can quite clearly see all 4 crank studs. And notice they are studs, not bolts.
not sure what you mean by not symmetrical. On the camshafts, VW had to come up with a novel solution on how to actuate 4 valves per cyl using double cam perhead like normal DOHC engines. In W engines one cyl head caps 2 narrow banks of cyls. 2 banks usually mean 4 cams in V engines but there's no space in the head for a W engine to house 4 cams. Each camshaft in W engine head actuate valves for 2 banks using unequal length valves
It is the most expensive engine in production in the world; it costs Volkswagen nearly $100K to make each one. It takes a two-man crew five days to assemble each one, not counting the time it takes to machine (yes you read that right) the block and heads out of a solid aluminum billet.
It's a standard 12-point bolt.... these are more common in modern engines than 6 point. 12 point sockets are actually more common, and they work on hexagonal heads in low torque applications. Also a lot less likely to round off a 12 point bolt. As a mechanic, I say thanks Bugatti!
The W-16 configuration is certainly very interesting, but I personally think it's a bit over-elaborate. I still think the V-8, V-10 and V-12 are the best engines available.
@Gazzz87 That tool is designed for this purpose and it will not damage the piston or the block. The head was not shown at all in that part of the video. What makes you such a pro engine builder that you can criticize professional engine builders? Using a tool to insert (not throw) the pistons into the block is much easier and lowers the risk of damagin anything.
I'm more interested in those damned power torque wrenches that don't make any kind of noise at all! If they really work that quietly, thats fucking unbelievable, and I want one, NOW!!!
@Warblade118 V12, R6, flat engines don't need balance shaft. Next, many engines with crossplane crank can rev 8500-10,000 rpm (example: Lexus LF-A). Biggest engines with flat-plane crank design produce huge power and they are 6.0, 6.6 even 7.3 liters, so displacement is not problem. But sure, biggest displacement (crossplane design) diesel and gasoline engines are 12L, 15L even bigger (trucks, buses, boats).
@GabZx16 It is a measurement machine, it makes very precise measurments of critical characterisitics on any particular part. Many of its functions are automated to speed up the process while minimizing measurement error.
This engine is just insane. And considering the extreme amount of power this engine develops, i sorta feel sorry for the poor gearbox/drivetrain thats supposed to handle it all. =p
You guys may be missing how important the compactness issue is here. While I agree that a Nelson Racing Engine would be cheaper for the same power, those V8's are large with lots of ductwork. This W16 is comparatively tiny, so the car that carries it is much smaller, lighter and more aerodynamic than is similar car with a turbocharged big block Chevy. Throttle response is MUCH faster too, which helps on the twisties.
A lot of people are mistaken about the W-16 engine. Each bank can't really be consider a V8. Its more like a staggered inline engine. Each cylinder (on the same bank) has its own crankpin, which it only shares with its opposite cylinder on the other bank. A common V8 has two cylinders that share a crankpin. If you look up any of the VR engines, you would realize that they don't have any common characteristics of vee engines, other than having to rows of cylinders.
