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The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 cannot fairly be compared with other cars, because none, including Formula One racers, can match its specs: 1,001 horsepower, 253 mph, 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. In 2000, Ferdinand Piech, then CEO of parent company Volkswagen, announced the project and its stunning perfomance goals. The Veyron would make a statement, not a profit. (The car sells for $1.2 million; each of the 300 models to be made will cost VW a rumored $5–6 million.) Engineers spent years refining the eight-liter, four-turbo, 16-cylinder engine—the 16.4 in the name—to squeeze 1,001 horsepower from it. They refined the aerodynamics with a morphing rear wing and an adjustable suspension to get a final top speed of 253 mph. They developed a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to harness the 922 pound-feet of torque blasted to all four wheels. The final product is a supremely stable supercar that can be driven by anyone (its gearbox has a docile automatic mode), is mind-bendingly fast, and will probably never be matched in our lifetime. $1.2 million; bugatti.com
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